Economic development does not happen overnight. It is built through long-term market development, sustained engagement, and a clear understanding of where global investment is heading. Puerto Rico’s growing engagement with Asia as a source of advanced manufacturing investment reflects this approach, and PharmaEssentia’s decision to establish manufacturing operations on the island offers a clear example of how intent translates into measurable results.

As global manufacturers rethink supply chains, regulatory exposure, and proximity to end markets, Puerto Rico is increasingly positioned as a U.S. manufacturing hub capable of supporting complex, regulated, and high-value operations.

Asia as a Strategic Market for Advanced Manufacturing

In 2025, Invest Puerto Rico began clearly signaling Asia as a priority market for advanced manufacturing investment. This focus was grounded in global realities. Asian economies have long led in sectors such as bioscience, tech, and advanced manufacturing; industries closely aligned with Puerto Rico’s existing capabilities.

At the same time, Asia-based companies are reassessing where they manufacture. Rising demand, supply-chain disruptions, and the need for regulatory certainty have accelerated interest in U.S.-based manufacturing platforms. Puerto Rico's status as a U.S. jurisdiction with decades of experience in FDA-regulated manufacturing places it squarely within that conversation.

Early discussions around potential commercial engagement with Japan and other Asian markets, including coordination with organizations such as JETRO, reflected a long-cycle strategy. Attracting investment from Asia requires years of planning, trust-building, and on-the-ground understanding — particularly in highly regulated industries.

Why Puerto Rico Resonates with Asian Manufacturers

For companies in Asia evaluating U.S. manufacturing expansion, the decision depends on talent depth, regulatory reliability, ecosystem maturity, and long-term competitiveness. Puerto Rico delivers on each:

• Deep STEM talent pipeline: Nearly 50% of university graduates come from STEM disciplines — approximately 21,000 professionals annually in health sciences, engineering, and applied technologies. Roughly 70% of all degrees awarded are in STEM and business, ensuring a steady flow of bilingual, technically proficient talent.
• Proven FDA-regulated ecosystem: More than 120 FDA-approved facilities operate on the island, exporting approximately $53 billion in bioscience products annually, including five of the world’s top 20 best-selling medicines.
• 70+ years of manufacturing legacy: Puerto Rico offers operational maturity in biosciences and advanced manufacturing, reducing execution risk for companies entering the U.S. market.
• Industry concentration: The only U.S. jurisdiction specializing in four of the five major bioscience subsectors — biopharma, medical devices, medical research and labs, and related distribution — and ranked sixth worldwide in concentration of scientists and engineers.
• Competitive operating structure: Under Act 60, eligible companies benefit from a 4% fixed corporate tax rate, property and municipal tax exemptions, and R&D tax credits of up to 50%.

For companies like PharmaEssentia, this combination of U.S. market access, regulatory expertise, deep talent, and cost competitiveness creates a platform designed for long-term manufacturing growth and global diversification — a foundation also reflected in the expansion of Terumo, the only Japanese pharmaceutical manufacturer currently established in Puerto Rico, and the establishment of operations by Prodapt, a global technology and engineering services firm headquartered in India.

From Market Development to Measurable Outcomes

Investment attraction rarely follows a straight line. It requires early engagement, repeated dialogue, and patience. Invest Puerto Rico's approach to Asia investment has focused on building durable pipelines rather than pursuing short-term announcements.

That approach is reflected in PharmaEssentia's establishment of manufacturing operations. After years of engagement, the company approved a $46 million investment to create a biopharmaceutical manufacturing subsidiary in Puerto Rico. The facility will support U.S. manufacturing and long-term global demand for BESREMi®, an FDA-approved biologic therapy used to treat a rare blood cancer and other hematologic conditions.

Manufacturing this therapy in Puerto Rico means the island will play a direct role in strengthening the global supply of a critical cancer treatment, supporting patients in the United States and around the world. More than 90 specialized jobs are planned in its initial phase, reinforcing Puerto Rico's growing contribution to life-saving biopharmaceutical innovation.

A Signal Beyond the Numbers: What a Taiwanese Biopharma Investment Represents

The significance of PharmaEssentia's investment extends beyond capital investment figures or job creation. As the first Taiwanese biopharmaceutical company to establish manufacturing operations in Puerto Rico, the project sends an important signal about how the island is perceived globally.

For a company headquartered in Asia to select Puerto Rico as its U.S. manufacturing base reflects confidence in the island's regulatory environment, workforce capabilities, and long-term competitiveness. It also reinforces Puerto Rico's role in reshoring manufacturing to the United States, particularly in sectors where quality, compliance, and reliability are essential.

In this context, PharmaEssentia’s decision builds on an emerging pattern of Asia-origin companies viewing Puerto Rico as a strategic U.S. platform for long-term operations.

Looking Ahead: Deepening Engagement with Asia

Building on this momentum, Invest Puerto Rico will continue to prioritize Asia as a strategic market for advanced manufacturing investment. In April, the organization will conduct a commercial mission to Japan and South Korea, focused on strengthening relationships and engaging companies in sectors aligned with Puerto Rico's manufacturing strengths.

The mission reflects Invest Puerto Rico's long-term approach to market development: sustained engagement, targeted outreach, and alignment with global companies seeking a reliable U.S. manufacturing platform. As global supply chains continue to evolve, Puerto Rico remains well positioned to compete for high-impact advanced manufacturing and biopharma investment from Asia and beyond.The path from intent to investment is measured over years, not quarters. Projects like PharmaEssentia's demonstrate how disciplined strategy and consistent execution translate into durable economic outcomes - and how Puerto Rico's global positioning continues to strengthen through deliberate, long-term engagement.