The Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association or "Asociación de Industriales de Puerto Rico" was established in 1928 as a non-profit, voluntary and private organization with the intention of joining in the same organization the manufacturer and service industries in Puerto Rico in the same organization.

History

The PRMA was established in 1928, before Operation Bootstrap and PRIDCO existed. By 1930 the Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association held "Permanent Puerto Rico Products Exhibition" in San Juan. The PRMA incorporates on June 26, 1931, the first members were: N. Pasarell, Lupercio Colberg, J.A.E. Rodríguez, Angel M. Méndez, M. Rodríguez-Ema, and F. Krug. To promote the economic development of Puerto Rico in 1939 the association suggested in 1939 the creation of the Industrial Development Corp. House Bill 598 was submitted by Miguel A. García Méndez

Miguel A. García Méndez

Miguel Angel García Méndez was a recognized businessman, lawyer, statesman, and banker in Puerto Rico. He was a lifelong statehood supporter for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico...

, but it was never signed by Gov. Winship. Three years later, the Industrial Development Co. was created.

By 1952 the PRMA established the Mayagüez Region. Two month afterwards the asoociation organized all industries in Puerto Rico into autonomous local chapter. During the 1970s the Environmental and Health & Security committees formed inside the association. In 1973 for the first time, the PRMA adopts a format that allows manufacturers to talk directly with different government representatives through a caucus. The position known as executive director changes to executive vice president in 1975. By 1976 the association creates the Economic Assistance Program for Talented Students. Member Visiting Program is established and EcoNews is published for the first time in 1978. PRExpo is established in 1984. This open exhibition was held to familiarize the public with the variety, quality, and complexity of Puerto Rican products and manufacturing processes.

By 1987 the Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association established the Adopt A School Program to foster a good working relationship between industries and schools to create a new school model. Manuel Luis del Valle was co-president of Give a Hand to Puerto Rico (“Dale la Mano a Puerto Rico”) to help victims of Hurricane Hugo

Hurricane Hugo

Hurricane Hugo was a classical, destructive and rare Cape Verde-type hurricane which struck the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe, Montserrat, St. Croix, Puerto Rico and the USA mainland in South Carolina as a Category 4 hurricane during September of the 1989 Atlantic hurricane season...

 in 1989. Industry Opens Its Doors (“Industria Abre sus Puertas”) is established in 1993, students have the opportunity for a firsthand look at the manufacturing process. On March 7, 1993 the PRMA organized a rally called Section 936 Puerto Ricans Defend Their Jobs (“936 Puertorriqueños Defienden su Empleo”). Under the slogan “Búscame que estoy pegao” (Look At Me, I’m What’s Hot), the PRMA launched a campaign in 1993 to promote sales of products made in Puerto Rico. In 1994 During its annual meeting, the PRMA brought together four ex-governors, Luis A. Ferré

Luis A. Ferré

Don Luis Alberto Ferré Aguayo was a Puerto Rican engineer, industrialist, politician, philanthropist, and a patron of the arts. He was the third Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 1969 to 1973, and the founding father of the New Progressive Party which advocates for Puerto Rico...

, Roberto Sánchez Vilella

Roberto Sánchez Vilella

Roberto Sánchez Vilella was the second Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 1965 to 1969. He was born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico...

, Carlos Romero Barceló

Carlos Romero Barceló

Carlos Antonio Romero Barceló is a Puerto Rican politician who served as the fifth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the second governor to be elected from the New Progressive Party and also Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 2001, making him one of the more successful...

, and Rafael Hernández Colón

Rafael Hernández Colón

Rafael Hernández Colón is a Puerto Rican politician who served as the fourth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for three non-consecutive terms, from 1973 to 1977 and from 1985 to 1993. An experienced politician, Hernández holds the record for being the youngest Governor of Puerto Rico,...

. On June 1, 1996 the PRMA advocated for Section 936 with a huge gathering at Hiram Bithorn Stadium.

In 1997 Colin Powell

Colin Powell

Colin Luther Powell is an American statesman and a retired four-star general in the United States Army. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African American to serve in that position. During his military...

 visited the Island for the first time through an invitation from the PRMA and PR 2000. In 1999 the PRMA presented a 15-point economic proposal to all gubernatorial candidates in the 2000 elections, many of which were included in political party platforms. Since its founding many notable people have spoken to PRMA members among them: Steve Forbes

Steve Forbes

Malcolm Stevenson "Steve" Forbes, Jr. is an American editor, publisher, and businessman. He is the editor-in-chief of business magazine Forbes as well as president and chief executive officer of its publisher, Forbes Inc. He was a Republican candidate in the U.S. Presidential primaries in 1996...

, Henry Kissinger

Henry Kissinger

Heinz Alfred "Henry" Kissinger is a German-born American academic, political scientist, diplomat, and businessman. He is a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He served as National Security Advisor and later concurrently as Secretary of State in the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon and...

, Carly Fiorina

Carly Fiorina

Carly Fiorina is an American business executive and a former Republican candidate for the United States Senate representing California. Fiorina served as chief executive officer of Hewlett-Packard from 1999 to 2005 and previously was an executive at AT&T and its equipment and technology spinoff,...

, Lionel Fernández and Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton

William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...

.

Presidents