Uruguay Solidifies Position as Regional Pharmaceutical Hub at Sixth Edition of Best Practices in Pharma Supply Chain

Uruguay again took center stage in the regional pharmaceutical industry with the sixth edition of Best Practices in Pharma Supply Chain, held at Criolla Elías Regules. The meeting, organized by Uruguay XXI, the National Logistics Institute (INALOG), and the Uruguay Pharma Hub group—which includes laboratories such as Adium Pharma, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, GSK, MegaLabs, Merck, Pfizer, and Roche—has established itself as the main forum for exchange in the sector in the country.

The presence of the President of the Republic, Yamandú Orsi, and Ministers Cristina Lustemberg (Public Health) and Fernanda Cardona (Industry, Energy, and Mining) reaffirmed the strategic nature of the activity, which was declared of National Interest by the Presidency of the Republic.

Innovation, sustainability, and talent are at the center of the debate

More than 300 participants, including executives, regulatory authorities, logistics operators, national and international laboratories, and academic representatives, analyzed the challenges of the supply chain, the incorporation of new technologies, sustainability, and the role of human talent in an industry in constant transformation.

One of the most notable panels was on female leadership in the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain, with executives from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck, MegaLabs, and Adium. Magdalena Furtado from UN Women moderated the panel, which highlighted the growing participation of women in strategic positions in the sector.

A key sector in sustained growth

At the opening, the executive director of Uruguay XXI, Mariana Ferreira, noted that “the pharmaceutical supply chain is one of the engines of the Uruguayan economy, with more than US$1 billion in transit and 6,500 direct and indirect jobs.” She noted that Uruguay offers “a solid, stable ecosystem with adequate incentives to continue consolidating the country as a regional and global pharmaceutical hub.”

INALOG general manager Emilio Rivero explained that this position results from a long-term strategy: “The laws on free trade zones, free ports, and free airports, combined with infrastructure and connectivity, make Uruguay a benchmark for the regional distribution of medicines and vaccines.”

On behalf of the Uruguay Pharma Hub group, Analía Pazos (Roche) highlighted the evolution of the meeting since its inception. “Six years ago, we dreamed of a different space to unite leaders, authorities, and academics to share best practices. Today, Uruguay is proud to have an innovative, secure, and reliable logistics hub. We must continue working on infrastructure, talent, and innovation to project ourselves to the world,” she said.

Official support for the pharmaceutical hub

For the Minister of Public Health, Cristina Lustemberg, the event “marks a turning point in the integration between health and industry.” The minister pointed out that Uruguay has a robust integrated national health system, although challenges require greater investment. “We are betting on a qualitative leap with more resources for innovation and technology. And we need laboratories to accompany this process, because we are a serious country that guarantees the right to health as a state policy,“ she said.

The Minister of Industry, Fernanda Cardona, described the pharmaceutical industry as ”an absolutely strategic industry for Uruguay, accounting for 11% of industrial GDP and 1% of overall GDP.” She emphasized that these are high-quality, highly skilled jobs with a strong female presence.

Lustemberg also valued female participation. “Today we see women leading transformation processes in a key industry, and Uruguay does not want to be left behind in gender equality,” he added.

For Cardona, the pharmaceutical hub is now a tangible reality, supported by legal certainty, institutional robustness, and world-class professional talent. “It is also the best example of how public-private partnerships generate impactful results that we must replicate in other industries,” he said.

Uruguay as an investment destination

The investment manager of Uruguay XXI, Alejandro Ferrari, detailed why multinationals choose the country: “Uruguay is positioned as a business and innovation hub with regional distribution, trading, and shared services platforms. We offer reliability, transparency, world-class infrastructure, preferential market access, and a growing innovation ecosystem.”

He also highlighted the role of talent and institutional stability. Uruguay leads in stability in Latin America, and Montevideo tops the rankings for quality of life. In the last five years, the country has doubled its migratory flow, and more than 40% of those who arrived have tertiary education, which further enhances the human capital available to industry,” he added.

With more than 100 companies, 22 specialized suppliers, local production of close to US$500 million, exports exceeding US$270 million, and transit worth more than US$1 billion, the Uruguayan pharmaceutical sector combines the manufacture of medicines, medical devices, and related services. Its sustained growth over the last three decades positions it as one of the pillars of the country’s economy.

The infrastructure, supportive policies, human talent, and stability make Uruguay an attractive destination for foreign direct investment in pharmaceuticals and logistics. As Analía Pazos summarized, “logistics applied to health is much more than a technical process: it is about improving and saving lives. And Uruguay is prepared to lead that process in the region and worldwide.”