Colombian economy

Colombia Manufacturing Rebound Strengthens; Up 9.4% Year-on-Year

Medellin Herald October 19, 2016

Colombia’s monthly manufacturing index (“EMM” in Spanish initials) rose 9.4% year-on-year in August 2016 — the latest month for which statistics are available — according to an October 19 report from the national statistics department (Departamento Administrativo Nacional de

General News

Medellin Moves Closer to Atlantic with Highway Expansions, Proposed Rail Link

Medellin Herald October 13, 2016

Colombia’s Agencia Nacional de Infraestructura (ANI, the infrastructure development agency) announced October 12 the opening of another 12.1-kilometers stretch of four-lane divided highway linking Medellin northward to Barbosa, Pradera and other Antioquian towns. The COP$438 billion (US$149 million) project, first launched in 2013, will link to new Atlantic-coast routes

Politics

Medellin, Antioquia Led Colombia to Reject FARC ‘Peace’ Pact

Medellin Herald October 3, 2016

Medellin and Antioquia overwhelmingly voted “no” in the October 2 national plebiscite on whether to ratify a “peace” agreement between Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and the narco-terrorist Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC). While the “no” vote prevailed nationally by 50.23% versus 49.78% for “yes,” 62% of voters in Antioquia rejected the

Companies

Continental Gold Boosts Investment in Socially Responsible Mining in Antioquia

Medellin Herald September 27, 2016

Toronto, Canada-based Continental Gold on September 26 unveiled its first-ever “sustainability” report outlining efforts in favor of environmentally and socially responsible gold mining – mainly at a US$600 million development project at Buriticá, Antioquia. Industrial-scale gold production at Buriticá is expected start in 2019, averaging 253,000 ounces per year over a

Culture

Medellin’s Philharmonic Orchestra Nominated for Latin Grammy

Medellin Herald September 23, 2016

Medellin’s Philharmonic Orchestra (“Filarmed”) announced September 22 that it has been nominated for a Latin Grammy award for “Best Tango Album” for its live recorded performance last year of the iconic ballads that made Carlos Gardel the world’s most-famous tango singer. The Filarmed recorded the ballads during Medellin’s annual Tango Festival along with Argentinian tango

Ecotourism

Medellin Bird Festival 2016 includes Birding Trip Packages to Jardin, Rio Claro

Medellin Herald September 21, 2016

The 2016 edition of the annual Festival de Aves de Medellin organized by the Sociedad Antioqueña de Ornitologia (SAO) this year includes three birding-trip packages to spectacular sites – two in Jardin, and one in Rio Claro, all in Antioquia. The five-day festival — October 26 to October 31 – includes two-days/two-nights weekend trips including transport,

General News

USAID Projects Boost Ecological Mining, Honey Incomes for Antioquia Families

Medellin Herald September 21, 2016

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced September 16 that its “Oro Legal” (legal gold mining) project has been expanded to include aid to 15 apiculture (honey producing) cooperatives in the Bajo Cauca gold-mining region in Antioquia. According to the agency, the apiculture project initially identified 56 possible candidate organizations in five

Companies

Medellin-Based Agua Bendita Founders Win Prestigious Global Entrepreneur Prize

Medellin Herald September 15, 2016

Agua Bendita – founded by Medellin natives Catalina Álvarez and Mariana Hinestroza – on September 12 joined the winners circle in Massachusetts-based Endeavor’s ‘International Selection Panel’ (ISP) entrepreneurship prize for 2016. The company – which now operates in 50 countries besides Colombia – “creates hand-made, premium swimwear by incorporating modern techniques and

Congresses & Conferences

Medellin’s ‘Expo Agrofuturo’ Generates US$250 Milllion in Deals, 18,000 Visitors

Medellin Herald September 13, 2016

Medellin’s annual “Expo Agrofuturo” show this month generated US$250 million in business deals and attracted 18,000 visitors – including 1,300 internationals — to the Plaza Mayor convention center, according to show organizers. Show visitors, investors and speakers came from 18 countries including the USA, Israel, Chile, UK, Mexico and Brazil, according to

General News

Medellin’s International Airport Adds Evening Flights to Pereira, Bucaramanga, Monteria

Medellin Herald September 13, 2016

Thanks in part to relentless population shifts into the “oriente” region east of Medellin, Colombian short-haul airline EasyFly this month launches new service between Rionegro (Medellin’s international airport) and the cities of Pereira, Bucaramanga and Monteria. According to the Agencia Nacional de Infraestructura (ANI, Colombia’s national infrastructure agency), the