Mexico City, August 13, 2026. With the objective of expanding access to affordable, quality medicines in Mexico, strengthening the country’s pharmaceutical supply chains, and creating skilled jobs, the International Finance Corporation, (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, will provide financing to Neolpharma, one of Mexico’s leading pharmaceutical groups.
The investment will support the expansion of local production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and injectable medicines, helping reduce reliance on imports and strengthen healthcare resilience. The project is expected to generate approximately 600 skilled jobs once fully operational. The investment will support the acquisition and modernization of an API manufacturing facility in Cuernavaca, Morelos, and the construction of a new injectable medicines manufacturing plant in Mexico. By expanding domestic production of essential pharmaceutical products, the project will also contribute to the World Bank Group’s goal of helping provide 1.5 billion people with access to quality, affordable health services by 2030.
The financing includes an innovative incentive mechanism linked to disability inclusion in the workplace. Neolpharma will be eligible for a reduction in the loan spread upon achieving agreed targets related to internships and employment opportunities for people with disabilities, making this IFC’s first investment globally to incorporate a disability inclusion key performance indicator (KPI).
“Strengthening local pharmaceutical manufacturing is essential to improving access to affordable medicines, increasing supply chain resilience, and creating quality jobs,” said Sanaa Abouzaid, IFC Division Director for Mexico, Central America and the Dominican Republic. “This investment will help expand domestic production capacity while supporting innovation, competitiveness, and economic growth in Mexico.”
Astrea Ocampo, CEO for Neolpharma group said: "This investment represents a decisive step toward strengthening Mexico’s pharmaceutical capacity and expanding access to high-quality, affordable medicines for the population. With the support of the World Bank Group, we will continue investing in innovation, local manufacturing, and specialized talent to help build a more resilient healthcare system that is better prepared to meet future needs”.
The new injectables facility is expected to pursue EDGE Advanced certification and incorporate energy- and water-efficiency measures designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve resource efficiency.
Mexico remains heavily dependent on imported pharmaceutical products, particularly APIs, of which more than 85 percent are sourced from abroad. Expanding domestic manufacturing capacity will help improve the security and reliability of medicine supplies while supporting the country’s long-term health and industrial development goals.
The World Bank Group announced in 2024 an ambitious plan to support countries in delivering quality, affordable health services to 1.5 billion people by 2030. This is part of a larger global effort to provide a basic standard of care through every stage of a person’s life – infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.
About IFC
IFC — a member of the World Bank Group — is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2025, IFC committed a record $71.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging private sector solutions and mobilizing private capital to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
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