Colombia government promotion agency ProColombia announced January 18 the expansion of its “Mipyme International” export business-development project, which now aims to boost exports of goods other than petroleum or minerals to a total of US$21 billion this year.

Unlike its floundering, oil-dependent neighbors in “socialist” Venezuela and Ecuador, Colombia’s capitalist economy and industrial output are showing resilience, as indicated by the latest Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) statistical survey.

Medellin-based electric power producer Isagen announced January 13 that a consortium led by a subsidiary of Toronto, Canada-based Brookfield Asset Management (BAM) paid COP$6.49 trillion (US$2.2 billion) for the Colombian government’s remaining 57% stake in Isagen.

Thanks to audacious investments starting 14 years ago, a new, 250-hectares private nature reserve near Medellin -- dubbed “Manantiales” -- can be seen as a font of renewed hope and restoration following Colombia’s decades of violence and environmental destruction. Leer más 

U.S.-based bond rater Fitch announced December 21 that it has affirmed a “stable” outlook for Medellin’s public debt.

The Agency for Cooperation and Investment of Medellin and the Metropolitan Area (ACI) announced December 16 that Medellin nabbed US$821.6 million in foreign direct investment (FDI) from 2012 to 2015 -- with FDI investments in 2015 alone breaking all previous records.

Medellin-based construction giant Conconcreto announced December 17 that it finalized a COP$289 billion (US$86 million) “strategic” investment deal whereby France-based global infrastructure project-development giant Vinci will take a 20% equity stake in Conconcreto.

The Agency for Cooperation and Investment of Medellin and the Metropolitan Area (ACI) and the Medellin Metro public transit agency announced December 10 that Medellin just won the global “Mobiprize Award” for a novel combination of zero-emissions metro-rail public transport with the growing “EnCicla” public bicycle system.

Washington, D.C.-based non-governmental organization (NGO) Grameen Foundation announced December 1 that it just hired former Colombian Corporation for Agriculture and Livestock Research (Corpoica) planning director Fernando Henao Velasco as its new, Medellin-based director for all rural-aid projects in Colombia.

Medellin Mayor Anibal Gaviria (photo, above) and Antioquia Governor Sergio Fajardo took the top prizes for “Best Mayor” and “Best Governor” in all of Colombia for the period 2012-2015 in a competition organized by the non-profit organization, Colombia Lider.