Puerto Rico may be at its true inflection point. In this episode, we unpack a powerful essay by Francisco Rodriguez Castro (Berlin Capital) that argues Puerto Rico can shift from decades of stagnation to sustained growth—if it acts with urgency. We break down the island’s world-class manufacturing base (pharma, biotech, medical devices, aerospace), the talent pipeline, and the 12 transformative goals for “Puerto Rico 2030,” including economic freedom, 300,000 high-quality private-sector jobs, a modern energy grid, and sustainable GNP growth above 4%.

We also discuss the island’s over-regulation and low labor participation, how to streamline permits, why the grid must come first, and how nearshoring and tariff dynamics could position Puerto Rico as a strategic U.S. manufacturing hub. Finally, we talk culture and mindset—why belief, accountability, and a modern education-to-workforce pipeline are essential for the island’s next chapter.

If you’re Puerto Rican on-island or in the diaspora—or you care about economic development, manufacturing, and the future of Latin America—this conversation is for you.

Chapters

00:00 What’s in this episode and why Puerto Rico now
02:03 Who benefits from Puerto Rico’s manufacturing strength
05:00 Why economic freedom matters more than slogans
07:18 Should the energy grid be goal #1?
10:22 How to create 300,000 quality private-sector jobs
13:05 What a faster education-to-workforce pipeline looks like
16:10 Can nearshoring and tariffs accelerate growth by 2030?
18:44 When streamlined permits unlock investment
21:04 What realistic 4%+ GNP growth requires
24:10 How belief and accountability change the trajectory