Colombian economy

Colombian Industry Growing Despite Oil-Price Crash

Medellin Herald February 18, 2016

The latest annual “joint industrial opinion survey” (JIOS) organized by Medellin-based Andi (Colombia’s national industrial trade association) shows that Colombia’s industrial sector continued to grow in 2015 despite the global oil-price crash that has crippled its oil-dependent neighbors. The

General News

Antioquia a Winner in First-Ever International Bond Float for ‘4G’ Highways

Medellin Herald February 15, 2016

A US$260 million bond float successfully organized by U.S.-based Goldman Sachs represents a big boost for Colombia’s massive “fourth generation” (4G) highway construction projects, which aim to overcome decades of logistical isolation from world markets. According to Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos and the Agencia Nacional de Infraestructura (ANI) highway development

Events

Upcoming: ExpoInmobiliaria, Global Entrepreneurship Congress, World Economic Forum

Medellin Herald February 15, 2016

Among major events upcoming at Medellin’s Plaza Mayor convention center this year are the ExpoInmobiliaria real-estate fair February 26-28, the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) March 14-17, and the World Economic Forum (WEF) June 16-17. ExpoInmobiliaria showcases new homes and buildings for sale in metro Medellin, including the Oriente and Occidente suburbs,

Companies

Colombia Court Ban on Mining in ‘Paramos’ Won’t Affect Antioquia Project

Medellin Herald February 15, 2016

Toronto-based Continental Gold announced February 10 that a new Colombia Constitutional Court ruling that bans mining in the high-elevation “paramo” wetlands won’t affect its big gold-mining development project in Buritica, Antioquia. According to the company, “the main thrust of the ruling will be to eliminate the exceptions in the law which allowed certain mining

Professional services

Endeavor: Medellin’s Emerging Tech Sector Needs More Angel Investors

Medellin Herald February 5, 2016

A new report  on Medellin’s emerging information technology (IT) sector from global entrepreneur-development organization Endeavor finds that Medellin needs more “angel investors” to spur more IT start-ups. The report — developed in collaboration with Medellin’s government-funded “Ruta N” IT business development promoter — finds that just half of

General News

Antioquia Sees Progress on ‘4G’ Highways, Ocean Freight Port, but Gov. Perez Blocks Toyo

Medellin Herald February 3, 2016

Colombia’s national infrastructure development agency (ANI) announced in late January that progress is being made on crucial “fourth generation” (4G) highway projects (totaling COP$12 trillion/US$3.5 billion) in Antioquia, as well as the just-approved “Port Antioquia” ocean freight project. Approved “4G” projects in Antioquia so far include construction of a second,

General News

Canada’s PharmaCielo Proposes Marijuana Extract Farm in Antioquia

Medellin Herald February 3, 2016

Toronto-based PharmaCielo announced February 3 that it has petitioned Colombia’s Ministry of Health and the National Council on Narcotics for rights to build a marijuana farm and cannabis extract plant in the Medellin suburb of Rionegro, Antioquia. The enterprise would produce oil extracts that could be used for elaboration of drugs for treating cancer, epilepsy […]

Colombian economy

Colombia Successfully Confronts ‘El Niño’ Thanks to Power Diversification

Medellin Herald February 3, 2016

Medellin-based XM — Colombia’s free-market electric-power trading organization – announced February 2 that despite the “El Niño” drought phenomenon that has cut hydropower capacity, thermoelectric generators have more-than taken-up the slack. As a result, Colombia isn’t experiencing the power blackouts suffered during the 1992 drought – which is great news for

Congresses & Conferences

Colombiatex 2016: Fine Weaving of Business, Technology & Artistry

Medellin Herald January 29, 2016

The 28th annual Colombiatex textile-industry conference and trade show at Medellin’s Plaza Mayor convention center January 26-28 not only surpassed expectations in terms of business deals, trade-show space, new technologies, expert insights and fashion shows. It also wowed 21,300 in-person show-floor attendees (up 12% year-on-year), another 9,960 in-person attendees for 26

Colombian economy

Antioquia’s Flower Producers Gear-up for Valentine’s Day Exports

Medellin Herald January 29, 2016

Some 500 million Colombian flowers are expected to be exported in the run-up to February 14 (Valentine’s Day) – most of which will go to the United States, according to Asocolflores, the Colombia trade association of flower producers. Antioquia is second only to Bogota in cut-flower production and export, with Valentine’s Day accounting for about […]