Real Estate

Real Estate in Metro Medellin: Clarifying the Picture

Medellin Herald September 21, 2015

Buying and selling real estate in metro Medellin can be a confusing and uncertain experience for foreigners, given the many legal, business, cultural and processing differences in Colombia versus the practices found in other countries. For that reason, Medellin Herald consulted with

Ecotourism

Medellin Ecotourism: Birding in Alto de San Miguel

Medellin Herald September 18, 2015

Unless you’re accompanied by a local, expert birder — such as someone from the Medellin-based Sociedad Antioqueño de Ornitologia (SAO), or a guide specially trained by the SAO – then birding in and around Medellin can be frustrating, especially for recent newcomers. Noise, traffic, uncertain public transport, occasional security problems (such as at El Volador […]

General News

Metro-Medellin’s Flower Exports Bloom; Dutch Connection Beats ‘Dutch Disease’

Medellin Herald September 18, 2015

Just a few kilometers to the east of Medellin in the Llanogrande-La Ceja-Rionegro region, the long-established cut-flowers industry is seeing its export profits bloom this year. Thanks to the rise of the U.S. dollar – up about 70% year-on-year, to around COP3,000 per US$1 – flower exporters are more-than-recovering from losses suffered when the U.S. […]

Health & Insurance.

Medicine in Medellin: Medical Tourism Growing (Part One)

Medellin Herald September 18, 2015

Medical tourism is a growing business for metro Medellin thanks to a growing international reputation for high quality, high technology, friendly service, competitive prices – and assurance that patients can communicate with key personnel in English. A logical starting point for English-speaking foreigners considering Medellin for such services is Salud Sin Fronteras

Congresses & Conferences

Medellin to Host Latin America Fashion Strategy Conference October 1

Medellin Herald September 17, 2015

Fashion and textile trade group Inexmoda announced that it’s organizing the Latin America Fashion and Business Strategy Forum 2015 (Foro de Estrategia America Latina Moda y Negocios 2015) October 1 at the Plaza Mayor convention center in Medellin. The “Strategy Forum” brings together senior management of companies in the fashion industry, aiming to analyze “challenges […]

General News

Medellin, Cartagena Making Biggest Gains in Social Progress: IPS Study

Medellin Herald September 17, 2015

Medellin and Cartagena are the two Colombian cities making the biggest gains in a new “Social Progress Index” (SPI, or “IPS” in Spanish) ranking, as found in a study sponsored by major international and Colombian foundations as well as university researchers. According to the study, Medellin and Cartagena posted a 25% gain in the social […]

General News

Medellin Metro Gets Funds to Buy 20 More Trains

Medellin Herald September 16, 2015

Findeter – the Colombian government finance agency – announced September 15 that it has disbursed a COP55 billion (US$18.5 million) loan to Metro de Medellin, enabling the purchase of 20 more train-cars for the city’s hugely popular metro-rail system. The additional train-cars will enable transport of another 200,000 daily passengers, according to Findeter. The Metro […]

Colombian economy

Andi: ‘Global Value Chain’ Opportunities Opening for Colombia: Part One

Medellin Herald September 15, 2015

Colombia’s economy still suffers a hangover as the oil-and-mining boom of the prior six years has predictably turned to bust, according to a new study for Medellin-based Andi, Colombia’s national industrial trade association. But a falling Colombia peso (COP) versus the surging U.S. dollar – combined with the possible emergence of a smarter, strategic tax-and-regulatory

General News

Medellin Improves Rankings among ‘Best Cities to Do Business’

Medellin Herald September 15, 2015

Two new studies show that Medellin continues to move-up in regional rankings of Latin American cities that are described as especially good for doing business.Two new studies show that Medellin continues to move-up in regional rankings of Latin American cities that are described as especially good for doing business. One of the rankings — by […]

Health & Insurance.

Medicine in Medellin: Experts Prescribe National Health System Cures (Part Three)

Medellin Herald September 15, 2015

While medical tourism is a growing business for metro Medellin thanks to a reputation for high quality and competitive prices, the national public health system is mired in a financial crisis (see Medicine in Medellin: The National Health Care System, Part Two). However, while the financial problems are widespread across hospitals, clinics, government funding sources […]