Mexican Government Announces $642.7 Million USD Investment in Pharmaceutical Sector

Mexico City. — The Mexican Government announced on Tuesday a joint investment of over $642.7 Million USD (12 billion pesos) by four pharmaceutical companies—three multinational and one domestic—with the aim of expanding their production, technological, and operational capacity in the country.

Minister of Health David Kershenobich said this investment reaffirms Mexico’s strategic potential in the health sector and strengthens the country’s position as an attractive destination for pharmaceutical innovation and production.

The companies involved include:

• Boehringer Ingelheim, a German pharmaceutical firm operating one of its largest plants outside Europe in Mexico. Its facility in Xochimilco plays a key role in producing medications for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

• Carnot Laboratorios, a Mexican company with a strong export focus, particularly to Central and South America. It is recognized for its sustained investment within Mexico and for developing proprietary technology.

• Bayer, another German firm with a longstanding presence in Mexico, is investing in modernizing its facilities to enhance local production capacity, including over-the-counter drugs and agricultural products.

• AstraZeneca, the British pharmaceutical company known for its pivotal role in COVID-19 vaccine production in Latin America, is now expanding its service centers in the country.

Kershenobich emphasized that these investments will not only increase local production but also drive specialized employment, scientific development, and access to cutting-edge medical technologies.

“These actions highlight the great potential of Mexico’s health sector, which continues to gain importance as a hub for innovation, manufacturing, and exports in the region,” the Minister said.

Mexico: A Regional Pharmaceutical Powerhouse

Mexico is currently the second-largest pharmaceutical market in Latin America, after Brazil, with an estimated annual value exceeding $18 billion USD, according to ProMéxico. The industry contributes approximately 1.2% of the national GDP and directly employs more than 100,000 people.

In addition, the country is home to over 160 COFEPRIS-certified pharmaceutical plants, many of which are also approved by international regulators such as the U.S. FDA and the European EMA—enabling exports to highly regulated markets.
With this new wave of investments, Mexico solidifies its role as one of the leading pharmaceutical production and development hubs in the Americas.