Real Estate

Real Estate in Metro Medellin: Smart Buying Tips from ‘La Lonja’

Medellin Herald November 15, 2015

Foreigners exploring real-estate opportunities in metro Medellin can be overwhelmed by unfamiliarity with Colombian business customs, legal requirements, sales-price “reasonableness,” a still-maturing multiple-listing service (MLS) network and uncertainties about the reliability of contractors,

Health & Insurance.

‘International Medicine’ Growing in Medellin; Goes beyond ‘Medical Tourism’

Medellin Herald November 9, 2015

Thanks to big investments recently in hospital/clinic infrastructure, high technology, multinational training, prestigious certifications and new international alliances, metro Medellin is broadening its reputation as a destination for “international medicine” — as opposed to just “medical tourism,” the latter often perceived as relatively simple plastic surgery or

Schools

Best 75 Schools in Antioquia, Medellin Unveiled in Annual Study

Medellin Herald November 9, 2015

The just-released annual study conducted by Colombia-based Sapiens Research Group (SRG) finds that 75 schools in Antioquia — 32 of which are in Medellin — are among the best of the more than 13,000 schools examined in Colombia. Among the top 75 in Antioquia are bilingual schools including Colegio Montessori, Colegio Marymount, Colegio Aleman, Colegio Theodoro

General News

Antioquia, Medellin to See Huge Economic Boost from Infrastructure Projects

Medellin Herald November 5, 2015

Big infrastructure projects now underway including the “Prosperity Highways,” the “Toyo” tunnel, the new “Port Antioquia,” the “Navelena” dredging project on the Magdalena River, and the giant “HidroItuango” hydroelectric project collectively will bring a huge economic and social boost to Antioquia and Medellin starting in the next five years — and continuing long

General News

Ministry of Environment: Medellin Environmental Quality Best in Colombia

Medellin Herald November 2, 2015

The Ministry of Environment on October 29 unveiled a study showing that Medellin ranks best among all Colombian cities in environmental quality – but with only a “moderate” ranking. On a scale of zero (horrible) to 80-and-above (excellent), Medellin took first place with a 55 rating, followed by Bogota ((50.9) and Ibague (45.2). The worst […]

General News

Merco Ranking: Medellin-Based Corporations Best in Colombia

Medellin Herald November 2, 2015

Spain-based corporate-reputation analyst Merco found in a new survey and study that Medellin-based Grupo Bancolombia is now the highest-ranked company in Colombia — and led by Colombia’s best corporate leader: Carlos Raúl Yepes (see photo, above). In the latest study, banking giant Bancolombia leaped over Colombian national oil company Ecopetrol to take first place

Health & Insurance.

‘Medical Tourism’ Growing, but More Efforts Needed: Medesalud 2015

Medellin Herald October 29, 2015

While the number of foreigners coming to metro Medellin for relatively low-cost, high-quality medical and dental procedures continues to grow, windows of opportunity have only just started to open. Current status: Some 5,600 foreign patients traveled to Medellin last year, spending a total of US$12 million at the 24 affiliates of Medellin’s medical-dental “cluster,”

Expat Businesses

Medellin Developing IT Start-ups, but Sharper Focus Needed: Expert Advice

Medellin Herald October 27, 2015

Following an 18-months-long overland odyssey from Mexico to Argentina, British expat Nick Aldridge came to Medellin four years ago to launch a start-up information technology (IT) company called Kogi Mobile – and found success. Having started with just three people in 2011, Kogi  now has more than 30 techies working in its offices near Parque […]

Colombian economy

Antioquia, Colombia Taking New Steps toward ‘Responsible’ Gold Mining

Medellin Herald October 26, 2015

The just-issued annual report by the metro-Medellin-based Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) finds that Antioquia and other parts of Latin America are starting to make progress in their quest to overcome enormous problems confronting the gold-mining industry. ARM, which created the “Fairmined” certification standard, reports that during 2014, “certified miners sold 500%

General News

‘Pacifico 1, 2’ Prosperity Highway Financing Complete: Antioquia Boosts Pacific Link

Medellin Herald October 22, 2015

Colombia’s national infrastructure agency (ANI) announced October 21 that financial close has now been achieved on the “Pacifico 1” (Medellin to Bolombolo) highway project and the related “Pacifico 2” (Bolombolo to La Pintada) projects. Both projects will speed freight traffic links between Antioquia and the key Pacific port of Buenaventura, as well as links between […]