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%

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

General News

Medellin’s International Airport: 11.3% Rise in Passengers in 2016

Medellin Herald February 13, 2017

Colombia’s civil aviation authority (Aeronautica Civil de Colombia, ACC) announced February 13 that Medellin’s international airport (Jose Maria Cordova, JMC) saw 2016 passenger counts jump 11.3% year-on-year, to 7.68 million. The year-on-year percentage increase in the number of passengers traveling through JMC – located in the Medellin suburb of Rionegro — was

Tourism

Foreign Tourism to Medellin Jumps 24% in 2016: Convention & Visitors Bureau

Medellin Herald February 9, 2017

Foreign tourism to Medellin continues to grow at a fast clip, according to latest statistics provided to Medellin Herald from the Medellin Convention & Visitors Bureau. According to the Bureau, foreign visitor counts to Medellin rose another 24% year-on-year in 2016, to 263,328, with visitors from the USA topping all others, at 75,196, up 19.7% year-on-year.

Companies

Antioquia’s ‘Flores El Capiro’ Wins International Award; Valentine’s Day Exports Surge

Medellin Herald February 8, 2017

Medellin-based flower exporter Flores El Capiro recently won the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) “International Grower of the Year” award at a ceremony in Essen, Germany. According to AIPH, Flores El Capiro is one of the largest chrysanthemum growers and container exporters not only in Colombia but also in the whole world. “Delivering flowers

General News

Accused Murderer of Japanese Tourist Captured by Medellin Police

Medellin Herald February 3, 2017

Colombia’s National Police (Policia Nacional de Colombia, PNC) announced February 3 that they have captured the accused murderer of Japanese tourist Ryo Izaki. Izaki was shot to death on November 19, 2016, when he offered resistance to two robbers that approached him on a motorcycle. The robbers violently stole a bag that Izaki was carrying […]