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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.
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.
The latest annual study by the National Planning Department (DNP in Spanish initials) finds that Medellin is the best-managed city among Colombia’s 1,102 municipalities.
The just-released 2015 edition of Colombia’s national private-sector competitiveness council (Consejo Privado de Competitividad, CPC) “competitiveness index” (CI) study shows that Antioquia’s CI continues to improve.
Medellin-based chain retailer Grupo Exito announced November 12 that it will build Colombia’s biggest shopping mall – not in Bogota, but rather in the Medellin suburb of Envigado.
Big infrastructure projects now underway including the “Prosperity Highways,” the “Toyo” tunnel, the new “Port Antioquia,” the “Navelena” dredging project on the Magdalena River, and the giant “HidroItuango” hydroelectric project collectively will bring a huge economic and social boost to Antioquia and Medellin starting in the next five years -- and continuing long afterward.
