The newly-announced Puerto Rico Life Sciences Air Cargo Community kicked off at the Air Cargo Europe event in Munich gathering momentum as companies across the supply chain joined the official launch.

The Puerto Rico Life Sciences Air Cargo Community was first announced in April to drive quality at what is described as the "number one bioscience manufacturing hub in the U.S. by export volume."

The announcement said pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers joined the first meeting of the Community last week and will sit on the new Board, along with representatives from airlines, airports, ground handlers, hauliers, forwarders, and integrators.

From left to right: Jonas van Stekelenburg. Community advisor; David Perez-Larson, business development officer at the DEDC; and Kurt Schosinsky, chief executive of Viems Consulting and advisor for Aerostar (Source: Puerto Rico Life Sciences Air Cargo Community)

David Perez-Larson, business development Officer, at the Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DEDC), said the group aims to improve the overall quality of airfreight-related operations on the island.

"We will be adopting best practices and striving towards a standardized way of operating, as well as representing and lobbying for the airfreight community with legislators and authorities," Perez-Larson said.

He added that part of the plan is to gather data to push its message to the logistics industry that Puerto Rico is a 'hidden gem' in the sector — and the first data set will be out this summer.

The Community will also be holding training meetings about the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) certification over the coming months as part of ongoing education programs for the workforce and community at large.

The Community is free-of-charge to join and open to any Puerto Rico-based company operating in the Life Science and, or, airfreight industry.

Meanwhile, it's Board members which include representatives from the DDEC and Invest Puerto Rico, as well as the Industry University Research Center (INDUNIV), Aerostar Airport Holdings, and the Port Authority of Puerto Rico, are elected for a one-year tenure.

"This is not only about content, bonds in general need to be developed and networking is as important as working on projects," said Jonas van Stekelenburg, advisor to the Community.

A number of members have already started the IATA CEIV certification process as part of the initiative.

The Community said 12 of the world's 20 top-grossing pharmaceutical companies operate on the island, with eight of the 15 globally top-selling biopharmaceutical products manufactured in Puerto Rico.

It added that 12 out of the top 20 medical device companies also have manufacturing sites on the island.

Puerto Rico has a U.S. Department of Transportation designation as an international air trans-shipment hub, a waiver that allows for unencumbered trans-shipment at the island’s three international airports.