Invest PR welcomes 504 new businesses, $476 million in capital investment

By THE STAR STAFF

At a time when global companies are accelerating reshoring efforts and strengthening supply chain resilience, Puerto Rico is emerging as one of the most strategic U.S. destinations for advanced manufacturing and innovation, according to Invest Puerto Rico’s (InvestPR) Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Annual Report.

The business attraction organization reported sustained interest from companies exploring expansion or relocation opportunities in high-value sectors. During FY 2025, Puerto Rico welcomed 504 new businesses and secured commitments totaling $476 million in capital investment and 3,186 new jobs, with an average salary of $65,000 -- nearly double the island’s average wage. Those figures are based on jobs and committed investments reported by applicants for Act 60 decrees, government databases, or projects without decrees verified by InvestPR.

Ella Woger-Nieves, CEO of InvestPR, noted that the results underscore growing interest from industries at the forefront of reshoring -- including biosciences, aerospace, defense, technology, medical devices and advanced manufacturing -- driven by Puerto Rico’s competitive advantages: U.S. jurisdictional protections, global reach, deep manufacturing capacity, skilled workforce, and cost efficiencies.

“The global economy is recalibrating, and Puerto Rico is rapidly becoming a reliable reshoring solution,” Woger-Nieves said. “The island has transformed into a strategic asset for companies seeking to reduce risk and scale with confidence.”

Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC by its initials in Spanish) Secretary Sebastián Negrón Reichard, who also serves as chairman of InvestPR’s board, added: “Reshoring is a national priority, and Puerto Rico is delivering real value to the U.S. economy.”

“Companies are choosing to relocate and expand here with confidence. These results reaffirm Puerto Rico as a cornerstone of the nation’s manufacturing strength,” he said. “Looking ahead, we will refine how we measure and communicate our impact -- updating strategies, improving traceability, and adopting methodologies that allow us to accurately evaluate results in an increasingly competitive environment.”

FY 2025 marked another period of progress for the island’s business landscape, Woger-Nieves noted, with a new wave of visionary companies in life sciences, technology, defense, and sustainability establishing operations in Puerto Rico.

Ceria Therapeutics, an innovative biotechnology firm developing miRNA-based therapies for inflammatory diseases, entered the market to leverage Puerto Rico’s deep pharmaceutical expertise and specialized talent.

In industrial technology, RoviSys and Dot-AI -- leaders in automation systems and AI-driven logistics -- chose the island for its bilingual engineering workforce and strategic U.S. location.

Clean energy innovator SolX reinforced its commitment to Puerto Rico’s cleantech ecosystem and sustainable energy solutions.

AI-based companies such as Topdoerr and iTerra Solutions further strengthen Puerto Rico’s growing reputation as a hub for advanced technologies.

“These moves reflect a broader shift: companies are choosing Puerto Rico not only for incentives, but for its strategic role in reshoring, innovation, and global competitiveness,” Woger-Nieves added.

Invest Puerto Rico’s investment attraction campaign “It’s not what’s next, it’s where” generated more than 470 million impressions, 107 million interactions, and 66 million engagements across all channels.