The US Agency for International Development (USAID) and non-governmental organization (NGO) “Acumen” jointly announced October 5 the launch of an “Investing for Peace” initiative that aims to help promote private investment and creation of economic opportunities in poorer, rural areas of Colombia.

The latest annual “Medellin Como Vamos” (“How Are We Doing?”) survey (released October 2) of a representative sample of 1,520 local adults from all economic sectors shows that Medellin’s citizens are mostly satisfied with progress being made in many crucial areas -- although recent security problems need more attention.

Colombia climbed five places – to 61st place -- in the just-released World Economic Forum (WEF) “global competitiveness index 2015-2016.”

Spain-based Cementos Molins announced September 30 that it signed a joint-venture deal with Colombia-based multinational Grupo Corona to build a US$370 million, 1.3 million tonnes-per-year cement factory in Sonson, Antioquia.

The Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) and the London-based International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) on September 24 released the Spanish-language edition of a new study detailing big problems in Antioquia’s mining industry – along with possible remedies.

The soaring value of the U.S. dollar versus the Colombian peso -- combined with an ever-increasing flow of business-oriented tourism to Medellin – is spurring ever-greater interest in metro-Medellin real estate markets and other investment opportunities.

At a September 23 press conference in Havana, Cuba, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) leader Timoleon Jimenez (alias “Timochenko”) shook hands for the first time and issued a joint statement outlining a deal that would lead to a final “peace agreement” in the next six months.

The International Council for Educational Media (ICEM) will hold its 64th annual international conference September 30 to October 2 in Medellin this year – with all presentations in English (although simultaneous translations to Spanish also will be available).

Colombia’s national infrastructure agency (ANI, Agencia Nacional de Infraestructura) announced September 22 that it has now finalized and awarded the last of a series of nine construction contracts for the massive “Autopistas de Prosperidad” (prosperity highways).

Buying and selling real estate in metro Medellin can be a confusing and uncertain experience for foreigners, given the many legal, business, cultural and processing differences in Colombia versus the practices found in other countries.