Zonamerica is expanding its international pharmaceutical ecosystem

Together with Uruguay XXI, Zonamerica, and other key players in the pharmaceutical industry, they are preparing to gather at the Austria Center Vienna from April 14 to 16 to participate in LogiPharma 2026, the world’s leading supply chain conference for the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors . The event brings together more than 2,500 international leaders to discuss the creation of smart futures, the development of resilient networks, and the direct impact on global health. To understand the scope of LogiPharma 2026 and Uruguay’s potential for industry development, we spoke with Zonamerica’s Commercial Manager, Magdalena Rodríguez Luis, and Uruguay XXI’s Investment Promotion Specialist for Life Sciences, Cristina Montero.

This edition of LogiPharma features strong participation from leading Uruguayan figures in the sector. This prominent role reflects Uruguay’s consolidation as a life sciences hub in the region. The international market demands fiscal and operational predictability before committing venture capital, and therein lies the country’s main competitive advantage over its rivals. In line with this scenario, Cristina Montero of Uruguay XXI and a speaker at LogiPharma noted that “Uruguay has built its reputation over the past few decades on pillars highly valued by the global pharmaceutical industry, particularly in a sector where trust is key.” She added that “the country stands out for its solid legal certainty, stability in investment promotion policies, and a reliable regulatory framework that is respected internationally.”

In the same vein, Magdalena Rodríguez Luis, who will travel to Vienna to represent Zonamerica, emphasized that the gradual evolution of the pharmaceutical ecosystem within the park has kept pace with the maturation of the sector in the region. In the early days, operations were basic, “primarily focused on storing products near their final destination, and over time, the sector consolidated with the arrival of companies that add greater value to the goods, including the installation of primary and secondary packaging plants,” she said.

For her part, Patricia Beiro, Vice President of Corporate Operations at Adium Pharma, who will also be speaking at LogiPharma 2026, noted in a recent interview with Zona de Charlas that the pharmaceutical industry chooses Uruguay for its undeniable political and economic stability. The executive emphasized that legal certainty is a key factor in safeguarding investors’ capital. This institutional framework is complemented by the ability to provide rapid technical responses for the entire continent. “At Zonamerica, we can customize products to meet each country’s regulations,” Beiro explained regarding the enormous added value provided by the local ecosystem. In a highly regulated market, this logistical flexibility represents a decisive competitive advantage over other regional hubs.

The sustained growth of the life sciences is having a profound impact on the Uruguayan economy. “This is a dynamic sector that has shown consistent growth and currently employs more than 8,000 people, ” explained Cristina Montero. The official emphasized that this workforce provides a strong pool of skilled talent in critical areas such as supply chain, quality, regulation, and corporate services. When evaluating a corporate presence in the region, multinational companies find Uruguay to be an extremely competitive platform.

“In terms of taxation, the country has well-established and proven systems such as free trade zones, ” added Montero, explaining the framework that provides access to benefits including tax exemptions of up to 100 percent in certain cases. Added to this is an efficient system of free ports and airports that facilitate the smooth transit of medical products. This dynamic ecosystem drives innovation, strengthens export indicators, and positions the country as a strategic link in global supply chains.

Within this framework, Zonamerica has established itself as the undisputed logistics hub of choice for all of Latin America. “Today, more than twenty companies in the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors operate here, and we have six logistics operators registered with the national health authorities, ” said Magdalena Rodríguez Luis.

“In addition, in 2025, 62% of the transit operations that position Uruguay as a regional hub were carried out through Zonamerica,” the executive noted to illustrate the business impact of the park. These figures reflect a robust and specialized ecosystem that has gone far beyond the traditional distribution center model. “Companies began to view the free trade zone regime in a broader sense, incorporating other activities such as Global Business Services, raw material procurement hubs, and offshore trading operations,”, summarized Rodríguez Luis.

The ambitious goal of attracting major market players requires maintaining the highest international standards over time. “Zonamerica’s value proposition for pharmaceutical and life sciences companies is based on three fundamental pillars: reliability, scalability, and a regional vision, ” explained the commercial director. Clients from all over the world can start with a small operation to test the infrastructure and then gradually add new activities.

A clear example of this comprehensive support comes from Soledad Ramírez, Head of Regional Sales for Latin America and Managing Director for Uruguay at Envirotainer, who noted that

“Zonamerica has a very strong pharmaceutical ecosystem. (…) Its proximity to the airport, the constant availability of equipment, and its innovative spirit mean that ‘no’ is never an option. They’re always looking for ways to make everything we need a reality.”

This ability to scale business operations within the park is a streamlined, simple, and entirely predictable process. Constant adaptation proves to be a key factor in supporting corporate growth. The investment ecosystem continues to grow actively, and there is now formal confirmation that two companies will build their own industrial plants within the campus. “Zonamerica is not just a place to operate, but a long-term strategic partner for companies seeking to grow in Latin America in an efficient, orderly, and sustainable manner, ” concluded Rodríguez Luis.