Culture

‘Silleteros’ Reveal Spectacular Gardens in Santa Elena Traditional-Flower Contest

Medellin Herald July 22, 2016

Medellin’s 59th annual Desfile de Silleteros (Flower-Carriers Parade) this year is expected to draw more than 800,000 in-person visitors — plus hundreds of thousands of TV viewers — for an event that provokes amazement, tears, elation and pride. But behind this spectacle —

Colombian economy

Truckers, Colombia Government Settle National Strike

Medellin Herald July 22, 2016

Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos and Transport Minister Jorge Eduardo Rojas Giraldo announced July 22 that a 45-days-long national truckers’ strike – aggravated by acts of violence and vandalism against non-strikers — has finally been settled, much to the relief of freight shippers and receivers. According to the settlement agreement, the

Professional services

Interview: Ruta N a High-Tech Investment Opportunity, but don’t Call it a ‘Silicon Valley;’ Part 1

Medellin Herald July 16, 2016

Medellin’s novel “Ruta N” high-tech development center next to Universidad de Antioquia now boasts that it’s hosting some 135-odd companies from 22 countries (see  http://distritomedellin.org/hacer-parte/) that have chosen to locate inside Ruta N itself or nearby. As part of what the city government calls its “Innovation District,” the seven-year-old Ruta N not only serves

Professional services

Interview: Ruta N a High-Tech Investment Opportunity, Part 2

Medellin Herald July 16, 2016

Medellin’s novel “Ruta N” high-tech development center next to Universidad de Antioquia now boasts that it’s hosting some 135-odd companies from 22 countries (see http://distritomedellin.org/hacer-parte/) that have chosen to locate inside Ruta N itself or nearby. In an exclusive interview with Medellin Herald, Ruta N Executive Director Alejandro Franco and Ruta N

Congresses & Conferences

Colombiamoda 2016 Launches July 26-28; More than US$340 Million in Deals Seen

Medellin Herald July 8, 2016

The 27th annual edition of Colombiamoda comes to Medellin’s Plaza Mayor July 26 through 28 in what show organizer Inexmoda describes as the most important clothing-fashion business fair in Latin America. Some 1,700 international buyers from 50 countries will join some 11,560 Colombia-based buyers and 650 clothing, footwear, textile and accessories exhibitors, with more

Companies

More High-Tech Investment Seen Coming to Medellin from Uruguay, Brazil

Medellin Herald July 7, 2016

Medellin’s investment promotion agency –“Agencia de Cooperación e Inversión de Medellín y el Área Metropolitana” (ACI) –  announced July 6 that five Uruguay-based companies and two Brazil-based companies are eyeing new business launches or expansions here. According to ACI, these companies expressed interest in new Medellin investments during ACI-organized

Colombian economy

Foreign Direct Investment in Colombia up 64% in Sectors Other Than Petroleum, Mining

Medellin Herald July 5, 2016

The latest report from Banco de la Republica — Colombia’s national currency and banking regulator — shows that foreign direct investment (FDI) in Colombian business sectors other than petroleum and mining has jumped 64% this year, to US$2 billion. However, the global crash in oil and industrial metals prices has resulted in a 47% drop in FDI […]

Colombian economy

Antioquia’s Flower Exporters Harvesting Bigger Profits: Study

Medellin Herald July 1, 2016

A new study by Colombia’s Superintendencia de Sociedades (corporations oversight agency) finds that national flower exporters realized a big jump in profits in 2015 versus 2014. Colombia’s biggest industrial flower producers are mainly located in Antioquia (eastern suburbs of Medellin) and Cundinamarca (outer suburbs of Bogota). In total, 194 industrial flower producers

Companies

PharmaCielo Wins Colombian License for Medical Marijuana Manufacture

Medellin Herald June 28, 2016

Toronto, Canada-based PharmaCielo announced June 28 that it won a manufacturing license from Colombia’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection to process marijuana plants for “medical and scientific purposes.” The company first announced plans to obtain licenses and then build a marijuana processing plant in the Medellin suburb of Rionegro, Antioquia (see Medellin

General News

EPM Restores 100% of Guatape Hydroelectric Production

Medellin Herald June 27, 2016

Medellin-based EPM – Colombia’s biggest power producer – on June 25 announced that it has now restored 100% of output at its 560-megawatt (MW) “Guatape” hydroelectric plant in Antioquia following a February 15 fire that had destroyed power cables. The restoration came 68 days earlier than originally planned — thanks to fortuitous delivery of replacement […]