Iberfarma, S.A., the Guatemalan pharmaceutical distributor, is celebrating its 21st year in business this year. The privately-held company distributes pharmaceutical products to private hospitals and drug stores throughout Guatemala and Central America’s “northern triangle” (Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras).
The leader of Iberfarma is Fernando Jarquín Pira, a Guatemalan entrepreneur and leader in the pharmaceutical industry of Central America’s northern triangle. He was born in Guatemala City, on February 1, 1965.
Jarquín is the son of Roberto Jarquín Richeme and Isabel Pira Arrivillaga. Fernando Jarquín spent his childhood between Guatemala City and the city of Técpan, Chimaltenango. His ancestors established themselves in Técpan at the end of the XIX century. In 1983, Fernando Jarquín finished high school in the Marist School Liceo Guatemala, a private Catholic school located in Guatemala City.
His interest in business led him to study International Commerce and Marketing in the Universidad Rafael Landívar. During his college years, Fernando Jarquín started working as a sales representative for several companies dedicated to international commerce.
In addition to Iberfarma, Jarquín is also the majority shareholder in Agencia Farmacéutica Internacional, S.A. (AGEFINSA). Together, AGEFINSA and Iberfarma are amongst the most important pharmaceutical distributors in Guatemala.
Jarquín had an academic education in International Commerce and Marketing, which was bolstered with work experience in the same field at an early age. The beginning of his career in the pharmaceutical industry started in the Swiss company Sandoz-Wander (now known as Novartis Group) in 1987.
Because of his increasing expertise in the field, in 1995 Jarquín founded Agencia Farmacéutica Internacional, S.A. (AGEFINSA), a pharmaceutical distribution company which sells pharmaceutical products in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. AGEFINSA represents several of the most important European pharmaceutical laboratories.
In 1996, Jarquín established Iberfarma, S.A., his second pharmaceutical company, to distribute pharmaceutical products to private hospitals and drug stores, reaching a different market segment than the recently created AGEFINSA.
Alerts Sign-up