Infrastructure

12 Crucial Highway Projects in Antioquia Restart with ‘Biosafety’ Protocols

Medellin Herald April 21, 2020

Colombia’s national infrastructure agency (Agencia Nacional de Infraestructura, ANI) announced April 21 the restart of 12 crucial highway construction projects in Antioquia — thanks to new biosafety protocols to avoid Coronavirus infections. “Among the 12 infrastructure projects that will

Editorial

President Duque Favorability Rating Soars on Coronavirus-Crisis, but Most Now Favor Terminating Quarantine on April 27

Medellin Herald April 20, 2020

Until the Coronavirus crisis appeared, Colombia President Ivan Duque generally had difficulty connecting with voters and had slipped in popularity polls — initially because of a prior failure to build a broader, effective coalition in the multi-party Colombian Congress. But that’s all changed since Duque successfully broadened his Congress base late last year – and

Other Norms

Antioquia’s Central Wholesale Produce Market Here Wins Coronavirus-Controls ‘OK’

Medellin Herald April 20, 2020

The “Central Mayorista” wholesale produce market in the Medellin suburb of Itagüí just got a crucial “OK” grade from Antioquia’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development Rodolfo Correa Vargas during an April 18 personal inspection to check for Coronavirus prevention. Correa visited the giant Central Produce Market – by far the largest in metro Medellin, […]

Economy & Finance

Antioquia, Colombia Cut-Flower Exporters See Mother’s-Day Rebound Despite Crisis

Medellin Herald April 18, 2020

The east-of-Medellin “Oriente” region — second only to Cundinamarca in Colombia’s gigantic cut-flower export industry – aims for a sales rebound for the upcoming May 10 annual “Mother’s Day” demand surge typically seen in North America, Europe and parts of Asia. As noted in an April 14 bulletin from Asocolflores (the national flower-producers’ trade association),

Health & Insurance.

54% of Medellin’s Recent Coronavirus Patients Already Recovered So Far: Mayor’s Report

Medellin Herald April 18, 2020

The Mayor’s Office of Medellin announced April 17 that 100 of 183 confirmed cases of Coronavirus here have already fully recovered – a 54% recovery rate to date, with more recoveries expected. In total, 4,154 persons in Medellin suspected of having Coronavirus-like symptoms have undergone laboratory tests. “Of these, 3,669 have shown no infections, 302 […]

Health & Insurance.

Medellin Metro Theoretically Could See 3 Million Coronavirus Infections: Mayor

Medellin Herald April 17, 2020

Medellin Mayor Daniel Quintero announced April 17 via his Twitter account that the Medellin metro area — Valle de Aburra — theoretically could have 3 million people infected with Coronavirus. However, the Mayor didn’t specify how this would happen, when it might happen, nor how many cases would be “severe” or “critical.” “In Medellín and […]

Health & Insurance.

Colombia Quarantine to Continue Past April 27 with Gradual Relaxations: Health Minister

Medellin Herald April 16, 2020

Colombia’s Health Minister Fernando Ruiz Gómez announced April 16 that the current national quarantine against Coronavirus infections will continue past the presumptive April 27 deadline expiration. However, many current restrictions gradually will be relaxed — but only when accompanied by strict health protocols, he revealed. As of April 16, Colombia had

Banking & Financial Services

Colombia Expands Small-Business Loan Programs Even While U.S. Programs Collapse

Medellin Herald April 16, 2020

It’s a tale of two countries: U.S. President Donald Trump announced April 15 that Coronavirus-crisis emergency loan funds to help U.S. businesses meet payroll are exhausted – just as 22 million more North Americans hit the unemployment lines — yet Colombia simultaneously expanded its loan programs by COP$16 trillion (US$4.06 billion). Colombia Treasury Minister

Infrastructure

Crucial ‘Magdalena 2’ Highway Project in Antioquia Restarts

Medellin Herald April 16, 2020

Colombia’s Transport Ministry and the Agencia Nacional de Infraestructura (ANI, the national infrastructure agency) jointly announced April 16 a new financing deal to restart construction on the 114-kilometers-long “Autopista Rio Magdalena 2” highway project in Antioquia. The COP$2.3 trillion (US$578 million) “fourth generation” (4G) highway project will connect northern

Health & Insurance.

Haceb, Auteco Launching Production of Coronavirus Ventilators: Medellin Mayor

Medellin Herald April 15, 2020

Medellin Mayor Daniel Quintero announced April 15 that local home-appliance manufacturing giant Haceb and local motorcycle assembler Auteco will launch manufacture and assembly of novel Coronavirus ventilator machines — starting Monday, April 20. Three prototypes have been developed in Medellin via a research and technology consortium organized by tech incubator Ruta