The “global value chain” opportunities arising for Colombian exporters -- identified in a recent study for Medellin-based Andi (Colombia's industrial trade association) -- could see greater growth if Colombia tackles certain tax, regulatory, infrastructure, energy-cost and labor issues.

Among the encouraging signs of Colombia’s and Antioquia’s recuperating economy, environment and security situation is a growing network of private nature reserves – overwhelmingly founded by native Colombians, but now including a few “rare-bird” expats.

One such rare-bird migrant is North American-born biologist and construction contractor Doug Knapp, who two years ago launched the “La Esperanza” birding lodge and private reserve just outside Jardin, Antioquia.

Overlooking Jardin and within sight of the spectacular Farallones de Citara mountan range is Knapp’s six-hectare reserve (at 2,000 meters above sea level), where he and Colombian colleagues have built rather luxurious guest cabins and laid-out trails inside a regenerating forest.Leer más 

Just a few kilometers to the east of Medellin in the Llanogrande-La Ceja-Rionegro region, the long-established cut-flowers industry is seeing its export profits bloom this year.

Unless you’re accompanied by a local, expert birder -- such as someone from the Medellin-based Sociedad Antioqueño de Ornitologia (SAO), or a guide specially trained by the SAO – then birding in and around Medellin can be frustrating, especially for recent newcomers.

Fashion and textile trade group Inexmoda announced that it’s organizing the Latin America Fashion and Business Strategy Forum 2015 (Foro de Estrategia America Latina Moda y Negocios 2015) October 1 at the Plaza Mayor convention center in Medellin.

Medellin and Cartagena are the two Colombian cities making the biggest gains in a new “Social Progress Index” (SPI, or "IPS" in Spanish) ranking, as found in a study sponsored by major international and Colombian foundations as well as university researchers.

Findeter – the Colombian government finance agency – announced September 15 that it has disbursed a COP55 billion (US$18.5 million) loan to Metro de Medellin, enabling the purchase of 20 more train-cars for the city’s hugely popular metro-rail system.

Two new studies show that Medellin continues to move-up in regional rankings of Latin American cities that are described as especially good for doing business.

Colombia’s economy still suffers a hangover as the oil-and-mining boom of the prior six years has predictably turned to bust, according to a new study for Medellin-based Andi, Colombia’s national industrial trade association.

While medical tourism is a growing business for metro Medellin thanks to a reputation for high quality and competitive prices, the national public health system is mired in a financial crisis (see Medicine in Medellin: The National Health Care System, Part Two).