ARMED WITH AN AMBITIOUS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY, PUERTO RICO IS GIVING GAME-CHANGERS FROM MYRIAD FIELDS THE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO MAKE “IT” HAPPEN.

ELLA WOGER-NIEVES - CEO, INVEST PUERTO RICO

The day began like any other: a morning power-walk along the beach under a rising 7:00 a.m. sun, on my way to wind down and get a cup of coffee at the local “panadería” (a traditional bakery-coffee shop common to most neighborhoods across Puerto Rico).

This type of business plays an important role in the community, as it is here where people come to get their morning “café con leche”, grab a bite to eat, catch up on their news, and exchange light banter with friends. The faces in this spot reflect the fabric of this San Juan neighborhood, and for some inexplicable reason, that day I paid close attention to my fellow patrons, even though I’d been going there for years.

There they were, in happy coexistence: Puerto Ricans of all ages, from Boomers to Gen Z-ers; neatly dressed professionals in rush mode; families looking ready for their next stop at the beach; tourists enjoying the authentic local vibe of the place; and a dose of business folks from Puerto Rico and beyond. I discreetly overheard all kinds of conversations: “which beach are we going to visit today?”, “At what time is the Zoom meeting?”, “Check out that new restaurant in the mountains”, “Did you go to the concert last night?”, “Remind so-and-so there’s a networking event tonight”, and so on. Regardless of their background, here they were at this decades-old panadería getting “it” done, “it” being work, play, or both.

Before my eyes was a snapshot of Puerto Rico’s current reality neatly summed up, a new era of socioeconomic transformation powered by people from across the island and the globe, making the most of the island’s assets to get “it” done, to innovate in their respective fields, be it in tech, services, bioscience, creative industries, energy, and many more. Armed with an ambitious economic development strategy, Puerto Rico is giving game-changers from myriad fields the support and resources they need to make “it” happen.

This book is more than an overview of Puerto Rico’s value proposition. It is an invitation to come learn first-hand of the opportunities others have found here, enjoy our rich culture, and unleash your business potential. But first, coffee at your local “panadería”.

Game-changers, Welcome Home.