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

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 […]

Opportunities

Uber, Avianca, Materialise, Optiva Media, Netcentric Seek Bilingual Candidates

Medellin Herald June 27, 2016

Medellin continues to see growth in demand for bilingual and high-tech job candidates, as evidenced in a new series of postings to LinkedIn and CareerMine web-sites. Among recent postings: 1. Uber: This alternative-transport pioneer is seeking an “activation center coordinator” for its Medellin office. According to the posting,“we’re seeking site coordinators to help build

General News

‘Medellin Como Vamos’ Study Shows Progress, Shortfalls

Medellin Herald June 27, 2016

The tenth annual “Medellin Como Vamos” (How are We Doing) study released June 24 shows that Medellin and its citizens continue to make progresss – but also suffer some shortfalls — in key areas including business growth, education, environmental protection, public safety, mobility, health and poverty-reduction. The authoritative “MCV” study – this time covering the

Politics

Colombia Government, FARC Ink Cease-Fire Deal

Medellin Herald June 22, 2016

Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos and Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) leader Timoleon (“Timochenko”) Jimenez formally signed a cease-fire agreement June 23 in Havana, Cuba, a key step before any final “peace agreement” deal would be signed. The FARC and other narco-terrorist groups are principally responsible for the forcible displacement of some 6

General News

Medellin Companies Plan to Boost Hiring by 14% in 3Q 2016: Manpower

Medellin Herald June 21, 2016

The latest Manpower survey of employers in Colombia shows that Medellin companies plan to boost hiring by 14% during third quarter (3Q) 2016, second only to Bucaramanga (up 24%) for all of Colombia. In an June 17 interview with Medellin Herald at the World Economic Forum conference, Manpower Latin America president Monica Flores explained that […]

Health & Insurance.

Latin America’s Coke, Pepsi, Postobon CEOs Launch Anti-Obesity Campaign in Medellin

Medellin Herald June 20, 2016

At a June 17 press conference at the World Economic Forum in Medellin, Coca-Cola FEMSA (Latin America) CEO John Santa Maria joined with PepsiCo Latin America CEO Laxman Narasimhan and Postobon (Colombia) president Miguel Escobar in unveiling a nationwide “Healthy Future” campaign aiming to educate consumers on diet and exercise regimes to avoid obesity. Spokespersons […]

Congresses & Conferences

World Economic Forum 2016: Medellin, Colombia Grab Limelight

Medellin Herald June 18, 2016

Medellin’s growing international reputation as a center for high-profile events took another big step forward June 16-17 with some 800 participants at the prestigious World Economic Forum (WEF) 2016 Latin America regional conference. According to the WEF conference organizers here, some 550 leading business and organizational leaders from 40 countries — mainly from