New manufacturing investments.

NEW MANUFACTURING INVESTMENTS. Puerto Rico's Fomento Industrial Co. is negotiating new manufacturing projects that could inject US$2 billion in new investments here, says Hiram Ramirez Rangel, the new director of the agency, reports El Nuevo Dia (Jan. 26, 2004):

Most of the new investments are in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and aerospace sectors, he said. He said that for reasons of confidentiality, he was unable to provide details, but other sources said that Johnson & Johnson was expected to launch a large biotechnology project in Dorado this year;

Other projects expected are the US$50 million expansion of Medtronic en Juncos, and the expansion in Mayaguez of Infotech Enterprises and Pratt & Whitney. Other expansions announced during the past three years which are expected to be implemented this year include Eli Lilly in Carolina, Amgen in Juncos and Abbott en Barceloneta.