"We see India not just as a trade partner, but as a strategic collaborator for the US market and beyond"

Ella Woger-Nieves, Chief Executive Officer of Invest Puerto Rico, spoke BioSpectrum India on the sidelines of BIO 2025, offering insights into how Puerto Rico has firmly positioned itself as the leading pharmaceutical exporter in the United States. With $54.3 billion in annual life sciences exports to over 120 countries, the island is leveraging its strategic location, FDA-aligned manufacturing ecosystem, and robust talent base to attract global biopharma investments. In this interaction, Ella Woger-Nieves discusses Puerto Rico’s infrastructure, policy incentives, global outreach including recent engagements in India, and its long-term vision as a hub for next-generation therapeutics. Edited excerpts;

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Puerto Rico has become the #1 pharmaceutical exporter in the United States, with $54.3 billion in total life sciences exports annually to over 120 countries. What are the key factors that have enabled Puerto Rico to become such a vital player in the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain?

Puerto Rico is home to world-class businesses such as Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson, and Eli Lilly’s manufacturing operations. Puerto Rico’s prominence as the No.1 producer and exporter of pharmaceuticals in the U.S. supply chain is no coincidence—it’s the result of decades of infrastructure investment, regulatory alignment, and talent development. We offer a unique combination of a highly skilled, bilingual workforce with deep expertise in FDA-regulated manufacturing, world-class facilities that meet the highest GMP standards, and full compliance with U.S. laws and regulations. Our strategic geographic location also allows us to serve U.S. markets swiftly, securely, and tariff-free, making Puerto Rico not only a reliable but also a resilient supply chain partner. This has enabled us to play a critical role in ensuring continuity of care for U.S. institutions like the Department of Defense and the VA.

Given that approximately 90 per cent of air cargo leaving Puerto Rico consists of bioscience products, how has the San Juan Airport's pharmaceutical certification enhanced Puerto Rico's competitiveness in the global biopharma logistics landscape?