General News

Corona, Cementos Molins to Build US$370 Million Cement Factory in Antioquia

Medellin Herald October 2, 2015

Spain-based Cementos Molins announced September 30 that it signed a joint-venture deal with Colombia-based multinational Grupo Corona to build a US$370 million, 1.3 million tonnes-per-year cement factory in Sonson, Antioquia. The new plant – due to start-up in mid-2018 — will take

Editorial

Colombia President, FARC Leader Shake Hands, See Peace Deal in 6 Months

Medellin Herald September 23, 2015

At a September 23 press conference in Havana, Cuba, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) leader Timoleon Jimenez (alias “Timochenko”) shook hands for the first time and issued a joint statement outlining a deal that would lead to a final “peace agreement” in the next six months.  The FARC […]

Congresses & Conferences

Medellin Hosts ‘Anytime, Anywhere’ High-Tech Educational Conference – in English

Medellin Herald September 23, 2015

The International Council for Educational Media (ICEM) will hold its 64th annual international conference September 30 to October 2 in Medellin this year – with all presentations in English (although simultaneous translations to Spanish also will be available). ICEM brings together educators, researchers and entrepreneurs to evaluate emerging technologies that enable

General News

Antioquia’s ‘Prosperity Highway’ Contracts Now All Finalized

Medellin Herald September 23, 2015

Colombia’s national infrastructure agency (ANI, Agencia Nacional de Infraestructura) announced September 22 that it has now finalized and awarded the last of a series of nine construction contracts for the massive “Autopistas de Prosperidad” (prosperity highways). The projects — once completed over approximately the next five to eight years — would vastly

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 Luis H. Londoño — one of metro Medellin’s most-experienced real estate

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 […]