General News

Police Capture Last Suspect in 2016 Murders of Danish, Mexican Visitors

Medellin Herald February 27, 2017

The Metropolitan Police for Medellin and the Valley of Aburrá announced February 27 that alias “Marulo” – one of four accused killers of two foreign visitors to Medellin last year — has just voluntarily surrendered, following police investigations and citizen information. Alias “Marulo”

Companies

Medellin’s Cementos Argos Sees 2016 Profits Dip 14.5% Year-on-Year

Medellin Herald February 27, 2017

Medellin-based multinational cement giant Cementos Argos announced February 24 that its full-year 2016 net profits dipped 14.5% year-on-year, to COP$420 billion (US$145 million). However, full-year 2016 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) rose 8.7% year-on-year, to COP$1.65 trillion (US$570 million), according to the company, a division

Companies

Medellin’s Grupo Nutresa 2016 Profits Dip 7.2% Year-on-Year

Medellin Herald February 27, 2017

Medellin-based multinational foods conglomerate Grupo Nutresa announced February 24 that its full-year 2016 net profits dipped 7.2% year-on-year, to COP$399.7 billion (US$138 million). Gross profit rose 7.9% year-on-year, to COP$3.7 trillion (US$1.27 billion), while consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) rose 5.5% year-on-year,

Companies

Medellin’s Odinsa Posts 49% Hike in 2016 EBITDA Year-on-Year

Medellin Herald February 27, 2017

Medellin-based highway, airport and power-plant infrastructure concessionaire Odinsa announced February 27 that its full-year 2016 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) rose 49% year-on-year, to COP$1.06 trillion (US$367 million). Full-year 2016 revenues hit COP$1.48 trillion (US$512 million), up 65% year-on-year, according to the company.

Colombian economy

Colombia’s 2016 Full-Year GDP Up 2%, Free-Trade Exports Improve Year-on-Year

Medellin Herald February 24, 2017

Colombia’s national economic statistics agency (DANE) announced February 22 that gross domestic product (PIB in Spanish initials) grew 2% year-on-year in 2016, down from 3.1% in 2015. Financial services (up 11%) and real-estate (up 3.2%) led all growth categories, while construction jumped 4.1% and industrial manufacturing rose 3%, according to DANE. Colombia has seen 17

Companies

Bancolombia 2016 Profits Jump 13.8% Year-on-Year

Medellin Herald February 24, 2017

Medellin-based Bancolombia – Colombia’s biggest bank – on February 21 announced that its 2016 full-year profits rose 13.8% year-on-year, to COP$2.86 trillion (US$994 million). “The growth in 2016 of the Bancolombia group — in the midst of a soft-landing of the Colombian economy after an important external shock — showed positive behavior,” according to the […]

Companies

Celsia’s 2016 EBITDA, Net Income Both Rise Year-on-Year

Medellin Herald February 24, 2017

Medellin-based electric power producer Celsia reported February 21 that its full-year 2016 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) rose 51% year-on-year, to COP$1.03 trillion (US$357 million) – an all-time-record. Net income also rose to COP$171 billion (US$59 million), while investments totaled COP$302 billion (US$104 million). In fourth

Companies

Cormagdalena to Consider PowerChina Dredging Proposal on March 8

Medellin Herald February 24, 2017

Cormagdalena – the Colombian government agency overseeing a proposed dredging project for the Magdalena River – announced February 22 that it had received a letter of intent from PowerChina Limited Colombia (PCLC) that would assume control of the long-stalled project. However, according to Cormagdalena, PCLC still must complete technical, legal and financial analyses of

Volunteering

Medellin’s Fundacion Marina Orth Seeks Volunteer English Teachers, Mentors, Donors

Medellin Herald February 20, 2017

As the late North American philosopher A.B. Johnson once quipped, “mighty oaks from little acorns grow” – which aptly describes the nurturing work of Medellin-based Fundacion Marina Orth (FMO), founded in 2007 by U.S. journalist Maureen (Marina) Orth. The ever-branching-out FMO is now seeking qualified English teachers, mentors and donors to help under-served kids in […]

Colombian economy

Colombia’s Industrial Manufacturing Rebounded Sharply in 2016: DANE

Medellin Herald February 14, 2017

Colombia’s national economic statistical agency — Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística, DANE — reported February 14 that its latest monthly manufacturers’ survey (Encuesta Mensual Manufacturera, EMM) shows a strong industrial rebound for full-year 2016. According to the survey, industrial manufacturing rose 3.5% year-on-year in 2016, compared to