Manufacturing in Puerto Rico

Manufacturing in Puerto Rico is the largest economic sector in the economy of Puerto Rico; composing almost half (about 46%) of the gross domestic product (GDP) of Puerto Rico. All manufacturers in Puerto Rico are in some way interconnected with the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company (PRIDCO) which provides substantial incentives for companies that manufacture in Puerto Rico. Manufacturers are also voluntarily interconnected through the Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association which serves as their primary trade association and their main lobby group upon the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico. Most manufacturing in Puerto Rico today is the product of Operation Bootstrap.

Advantages

 * governed by the law and regulations of the federal government of the United States, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. labor laws, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)
 * bilingual labor force that speaks and writes Spanish and English
 * labor force enjoys the rights and privileges of American citizenship, allowing defense contractors to base operations in Puerto Rico or use Puerto Rico force for nearshoring
 * shorter route point from Africa and South America

Disadvantages

 * government monopolies on public utilities and worker's compensation
 * high level of government corruption
 * additional laws and regulation than those imposed by the federal government of the United States