MIA hosts life sciences workshop

Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MDAD), operator of Miami International Airport (MIA), has continued its efforts to support the local bio-medical industry by recently hosting an inaugural South Florida Life Sciences Showcase.
The event was held at MIA on March 23, and was attended by more than 100 professionals working in medical technology, biopharmaceuticals, health IT and marine biotechnology
The half-day workshop included presentations on life science industry trends and best practices, and also included an update from MDAD officials on MIA’s Pharma.aero programme.
MIA and Brussels Airport – the first two airports in the world to be designated as pharmaceutical freight hubs by IATA – created Pharma.aero in May 2016 to grow the global pharmaceutical cargo business through a collaborative network of the world’s biggest airports.
Since its launch, Singapore Changi Airport, Sharjah International Airport, Brussels Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Brinks Life Sciences have joined the project as strategic members.
The total value of pharmaceutical products transported through MIA has increased by 140% in recent years, from a value of $1.8 billion in 2010 to $4.3 billion in 2016.
“In addition to handling more perishable imports than any other US airport, pharma products and medical equipment have become huge trade commodities at MIA,” said MDAD director Emilio González.
“The launch of the annual Life Sciences Showcase, along with Pharma.aero and other MIA initiatives, are efforts we have developed to be on the forefront of this growth trend.”
Other cargo business development innovations launched by MIA recently have included:
·   Florida’s first ocean-to-air perishables transhipment programme, which sees MIA receive perishable freight from local sea ports before moving the cargo on by air, and without incurring Customs and Border Protection (CBP) duties
·   A Foreign Trade Zone magnet site designation, which upon approval will allow a variety of manufacturers to lease vacant property at MIA and have their tariffs deferred, reduced or eliminated
·   The Cargo Optimization, Redevelopment and Expansion (CORE) programme, a wide-ranging project intended to modernise MIA’s cargo operation and to double its capacity.
MIA is the busiest US airport for international freight and acts as a gateway for cargo moving to/from Latin America and the Caribbean.