Colombian economy

USAID, NGO Team-up on Helping Colombia’s Small Farmers

Medellin Herald October 7, 2015

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) and non-governmental organization (NGO) “Acumen” jointly announced October 5 the launch of an “Investing for Peace” initiative that aims to help promote private investment and creation of economic opportunities in poorer, rural areas of

Colombian economy

Good News, Bad News on Mining in Colombia, Antioquia This Month

Medellin Herald October 7, 2015

First, the good news: The Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) and Swiss watch and jewelry maker Chopard announced October 7 that several more mines in Colombia — beyond those in Antioquia — just obtained “Fairmined” certification under a joint ARM-Chopard project. “As part of their long-term CSR [corporate social responsibility] strategy, called ‘The

General News

‘El Niño’ Cuts Antioquia’s Hydropower Reserves: XM

Medellin Herald October 7, 2015

Medellin-based XM — Colombia’s national electric-power grid operator and its national wholesale energy-market trading platform – announced October 5 that the “El Niño” drought phenomenon this fall has cut hydropower reserves and consequently has boosted the call upon thermoelectric plants. Colombia’s aggregate national hydropower reservoir level has dipped to 63.97%,

General News

Medellin’s Annual ‘Como Vamos’ Surveys, Studies Show Progress, Shortfalls

Medellin Herald October 4, 2015

The latest annual “Medellin Como Vamos” (“How Are We Doing?”) survey (released October 2) of a representative sample of 1,520 local adults from all economic sectors shows that Medellin’s citizens are mostly satisfied with progress being made in many crucial areas — although recent security problems need more attention. While Medellin has seen a huge […]

Colombian economy

Colombia Improving in World Economic Forum Competitiveness Index

Medellin Herald October 2, 2015

Colombia climbed five places – to 61st place — in the just-released World Economic Forum (WEF) “global competitiveness index 2015-2016.” The index ranked Switzerland number-one for “competitiveness,” followed (in order) by Singapore, the United States, Germany, Netherlands, Japan, Hong Kong, Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom. According to

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 advantage of a limestone-mining license already obtained by Corona, according to

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