general news 217
A new study by the University of Antioquia and University Pontificia Bolivariana (UPB) finds that Antioquia’s COP$12 trillion (US$4 billion) “Prosperity Highways” to be built over the next five years will have a huge impact on economic growth, jobs and freight transport logistics.
Colombia’s national statistics agency (DANE) on October 18 released an analysis showing that Antioquia’s gross domestic product (“PIB” in Spanish initials) grew 7% for all of 2014 – third best in all Colombia and more than one-third greater than the PIB growth in Bogota.
The Antioquia departmental government announced October 14 that contracts have now been finalized for construction of the 9.75-kilometers-long “Toyo Tunnel” project -- part of a crucial highway connection between Medellin and a new freight port being built on the Caribbean coast.
A just released study by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (Cepal, in Spanish initials) finds that Antioquia continues to surpass all other departments in Colombia for institutional management and public finances.
A joint study by researchers at the University of Medellin and Spain-based Urbegi University examines how Medellin can tap qualitative and quantitative analytical methods to measure its global “brand” image.
Medellin investment promotion agency ACI (Agencia de Cooperación e Inversión de Medellín y el Área Metropolitana) announced October 8 that a new “Clúster Aeroespacial Colombiano” (Colombian aeronautical cluster) is becoming a magnet for new business growth in Antioquia.
Medellin-based XM -- Colombia’s national electric-power grid operator and its national wholesale energy-market trading platform – announced October 5 that the “El Niño” drought phenomenon this fall has cut hydropower reserves and consequently has boosted the call upon thermoelectric plants.
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.
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.
