Colombian economy

Colombia’s Top Economic Think-Tank Sees 7% GDP Growth This Year

Medellin Herald June 18, 2021

Fedesarrollo – Colombia’s leading economic think-tank – announced June 17 that it has revised upward its previous GDP (“PIB” in Spanish initials) growth forecast to 7.2% for full-year 2021, up from a prior estimate of 4.8% growth. “The increase in the growth forecast is due to higher growth in

Infrastructure

Pacifico 1 Wins US$150 Million Finance Package to Complete Crucial Medellin-Southwest Antioquia Highway

Medellin Herald June 16, 2021

Medellin-based highway construction consortium Covipacifico announced June 15 that it just won confirmation of a US$150 million financing package for its “Pacifico 1” highway project. The financing will guarantee completion of the COP$2.6 trillion (US$704 million), 50-kilometers-long “Pacifico 1” project between the southern Medellin suburb of Caldas and a new

Companies

Grupo Sura Posts COP$211a Billion Profit in 1Q 2021, Big Reversal from Net Loss in 1Q 2020

Medellin Herald June 15, 2021

Medellin-based multinational insurance, health-care and financial services giant Grupo Sura announced May 14 a COP$211 billion (US$57 million) net profit for first quarter (1Q) 2021, compared to a COP$76 billion (US$20.6 million) net loss in 1Q 2020. The big change “was mainly the result of the devaluation of the markets in the region” last year, […]

Other Norms

Mourning Latest Policeman Murdered by Protesters, Colombia Boosting Police Human-Rights Standards, New Training, Body-Cam Equipment

Medellin Herald June 9, 2021

Colombia President Ivan Duque announced June 8 that the dumped body of Colombian police officer Carlos Andrés Rincón has now been recovered, following his kidnapping, torture and murder by protesters participating in the “Comite del Paro” national strikes and roadblocks. The policeman had been in the vicinity of an illegal road blockade in Cali, where […]

Other Norms

Colombia’s Leading Medical Associations Slam ‘Total Reopening’ Decisions by Mayors as Covid-19 Cases Grow, Hospital Overflows Worsen

Medellin Herald June 8, 2021

The Asociación Colombiana de Medicina Interna (ACMI) and dozens more of Colombia’s leading medical associations on June 7 issued a joint declaration slamming decisions by various mayors in Colombia — including Medellin Mayor Daniel Quintero — declaring a “total reopening” of all businesses and mass events starting today (June 8) – even while Covid-19 cases […]

Other Norms

Supertransporte Brings Insolvency Charge Against Bankrupt Interjet Operations in Colombia

Medellin Herald June 4, 2021

Colombia’s Superintendency of Transport (Supertransporte) announced June 4 that it has issued a new control order against Mexico-based airline Interjet, which had been offering flights to and from Colombia. Interjet filed for bankruptcy in March 2021. According to Supertransporte, the latest control order is the second sanction brought against Interjet “for not complying

Other Norms

Colombia Abolishes PCR Test for International Arrivals, but ‘Total Reactivation’ as Promised by Medellin Mayor Not Guaranteed

Medellin Herald June 3, 2021

Colombia Health Minister Fernando Ruiz announced this morning (June 3) that Colombia has abolished the current mandate for airports to demand that international passenger arrivals must have passed a PCR test against Covid-19 infections — and likewise will no longer require “Coronapp” cell-phone health data for domestic airline passengers. Simultaneously, Minister

Editorial

Latest EcoAnalytica/Guarumo Poll: Two-Thirds of Colombians Fed-Up with Strikes, Blockades, Rioters

Medellin Herald May 30, 2021

The latest, just-released EcoAnalytica/Guarumo national poll of voting-age Colombians shows that people here are overwhelmingly fed-up with the month-long series of strikes, road blockades, violence, arson attacks, attempted (and actual) murders and attacks on police, and economic devastation seemingly ignored or in some cases even promoted by some members of the “Comite

Companies

EPM Board Votes to Sell its Stake in ‘UNE’ Telecom/Internet Venture

Medellin Herald May 26, 2021

Medellin-based utilities giant EPM announced last night (May 25) that its board of directors just voted to start the process of selling its minority stake in the “UNE-EPM” telecom-internet-cable TV company and the related “Inversiones Telco” company. UNE-EPM is a partnership between EPM and Spain-based multinational telecom provider Millicom. According to EPM, proceeds

Other Norms

Antioquia Continues Midnight-to-5-am Curfews to June 1, but ‘Pico y Cedula’ Abolished

Medellin Herald May 25, 2021

Antioquia Acting Governor Luis Fernando Suarez announced last night (May 24) that while midnight-to-5-am curfews and booze bans continue from today through June 1 (into early June 2), “pico y cedula” shopping restrictions are now lifted. However, mandatory mask wearing, social distancing and strict public/private health protocols will continue as long as the Covid-19