Colombian economy

Medellin Entrepreneurs Aim to Join Export Boom in ProColombia ‘Mipyme’ Project

Medellin Herald January 19, 2016

Colombia government promotion agency ProColombia announced January 18 the expansion of its “Mipyme International” export business-development project, which now aims to boost exports of goods other than petroleum or minerals to a total of US$21 billion this year. “Following the success of the

General News

Antioquia Highway Projects Get Financial Boost from Medellin-Based Isagen Sale

Medellin Herald January 13, 2016

Medellin-based electric power producer Isagen announced January 13 that a consortium led by a subsidiary of Toronto, Canada-based Brookfield Asset Management (BAM) paid COP$6.49 trillion (US$2.2 billion) for the Colombian government’s remaining 57% stake in Isagen. The other 43% of Isagen shares are held partly by private investors and partly by Medellin-based electric

Opportunities

Renault, Ernst & Young, High-Tech Companies Seek Bilingual Medellin Candidates

Medellin Herald January 11, 2016

Medellin continues to spark demand for high-tech and management-level professionals – especially those with bilingual (Spanish-English) skills — as evidenced by a continuing flurry of postings by multinationals as well as national companies. Among several recent postings to Linkedin: EY: Global consultancy Ernst & Young (EY) is seeking a senior auditor for

Tourism

ProColombia Touts Tourist Growth; New Niche Opportunities for Antioquia

Medellin Herald January 11, 2016

Colombian government business development promotion agency ProColombia announced January 6 that business and pleasure-oriented tourism to Colombia continues to grow thanks in part to expanded non-stop international flight offerings to major cities including Medellin. For all of 2015, “more than 2.3 million international travelers contributed US$2.4 billion to Colombia’s

General News

Wall Street Bond Rater Affirms ‘Stable’ Outlook for Medellin Public Debt

Medellin Herald December 22, 2015

U.S.-based bond rater Fitch announced December 21 that it has affirmed a “stable” outlook for Medellin’s public debt. “The rating action reflects Medellin’s financial strength, its importance in [Colombia’s] national context as well as its manageable debt metrics,” according to Fitch. The city benefits from a “high and dynamic collection of municipal taxes and

General News

Conconcreto Nabs French Investor Vinci; Unveils Antioquia Port Project

Medellin Herald December 21, 2015

Medellin-based construction giant Conconcreto announced December 17 that it finalized a COP$289 billion (US$86 million) “strategic” investment deal whereby France-based global infrastructure project-development giant Vinci will take a 20% equity stake in Conconcreto. The new alliance not only combines the engineering and construction experience of both companies but also

General News

Foreign Direct Investment in Medellin tops US$821 Million; USA Biggest Source: ACI

Medellin Herald December 21, 2015

The Agency for Cooperation and Investment of Medellin and the Metropolitan Area (ACI) announced December 16 that Medellin nabbed US$821.6 million in foreign direct investment (FDI) from 2012 to 2015 — with FDI investments in 2015 alone breaking all previous records. In 2015 alone, Medellin attracted US$248.9 million in FDI, while the city also separately […]

Opportunities

IBM, Microsoft, Acciona, Altran Latest to Seek High-Tech Applicants in Medellin

Medellin Herald December 21, 2015

Medellin continues to attract more multinational companies seeking high-tech job applicants, with U.S.-based computer giant IBM, Spain-based engineering-construction outfit Acciona and Spain-based tech giant Altran among the latest to post “Linkedin” listings. According to one such posting this month, Acciona is seeking a Medellin-based controller for its construction

Volunteering

U.S.-Based Foundation in Medellin Expanding High-Tech Aid for Poorer Farmers

Medellin Herald December 11, 2015

Washington, D.C.-based non-governmental organization (NGO) Grameen Foundation announced December 1 that it just hired former Colombian Corporation for Agriculture and Livestock Research (Corpoica) planning director Fernando Henao Velasco as its new, Medellin-based director for all rural-aid projects in Colombia. Henao’s “deep knowledge of Colombia’s agricultural sector and

General News

Zero-Emissions Medellin Metro, ‘EnCicla’ Public-Bike Combo Nabs Global Award

Medellin Herald December 11, 2015

The Agency for Cooperation and Investment of Medellin and the Metropolitan Area (ACI) and the Medellin Metro public transit agency announced December 10 that Medellin just won the global “Mobiprize Award” for a novel combination of zero-emissions metro-rail public transport with the growing “EnCicla” public bicycle system. “This is a recognition that confirms the efforts