The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has converted Carrasco Airport outside Montevideo,into the only “free airport zone” in all Latin America certified with the CEIV Pharma by recognizing the  MVD Free Airport for its pharmaceutical logistics..

A company communiqué reporting this advance underlines that this distintion "ratified the quality standards" of the logistics unit of Corporación América, which administers over 50 airports around the world, including Carrasco and Punta del Este.

It also opened up "new opportunities for developing the country’s main airport,” seeking to transform Uruguay "into a logistical hub for the region".

" IATA’s certification is a pillar of confidence for our proposal since it legitimizes our system of quality management ensuring that our treatment of pharmaceutical products is aligned with GDP (Good Distribution Practices) international standards,” explained Bruno Guella, the director of MVD Free Airport.,

The unit founded in 2016, is currently the entry point for pharmaceutical products in the region, "reaching 75% of its GDP in multimodal form,” also covering sectors like textiles and hi tech.

It further offers competitive advantages in terms of logistical costs and distribution times in order to contribute "to the generation of new opportunities in line with the development of a “Logistical Uruguay," as well as boosting the  connectivity of the country with the world."

The communiqué details that the process for obtaining the IATA certification started in 2017after the inauguration of Pharma HUB, "a  state-of-the-art infrastructure for storing pharmaceutical products."

In order to gain recognition, MVD Free Airport had to "pass audits based on over 280 items related to its management system, documentation, processes, infrastructure, equipment, applied technology, staff training and management  indicators. "

In 2017, the unit had already converted itself into "the first based in South America to join Pharma.Aero", an organization linking the main players of the international air freight industry to lead "the development of the transport and storage of pharmaceutical products in global chains".