Colombian economy

IMF: Global GDP to Contract in 2020, Rebound in 2021; Colombia Doing Better than Most

Medellin Herald April 15, 2020

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on April 14 issued an updated forecast concluding that the Coronavirus crisis likely will slash 2020 global gross domestic product (“PIB” in Spanish initials) to a net-negative 3% — compared to 2.9% net-positive PIB growth in 2019. Colombia likewise

Other Norms

Antioquia’s Coffee Growers Win Health Ministry Approval to Resume Harvest

Medellin Herald April 15, 2020

The “Comite de Cafeteros de Antioquia” (CCA, the Antioquia coffee-growers association) announced April 14 that Colombia’s Health Ministry has approved a new biosafety protocol that will enable resumption of coffee harvesting — a crucial export commodity both for Antioquia and Colombia. “Between March and June, it is expected that the first-semester [first half of

Other Norms

Colombia’s Ban on International Flights to Continue Beyond April 27 Quarantine Deadline

Medellin Herald April 15, 2020

Colombia President Ivan Duque announced April 15 that while the current national Coronavirus quarantine is presumptively set to expire April 27, regular international passenger flights to and from Colombia nevertheless will continue to be banned. Even after April 27 when the current national quarantine ends, “international flights will remain closed for a longer period of

Economy & Finance

Coronavirus-Slammed Businesses Reaching Critical Point on Cash Liquidity: ANDI

Medellin Herald April 14, 2020

Colombia’s national industrial-commercial trade association ANDI on April 14 released results of a national member survey showing that Colombia’s business sector is close to hitting a critical wall on cash liquidity – because of the Coronavirus quarantine crisis. The survey of 172 companies that collectively generated COP$56.8 trillion (US$14.7 billion) in operating income

Infrastructure

Cemex Renews Cement/Concrete Operations; Antioquia Highway Projects to Restart

Medellin Herald April 14, 2020

Cemex Colombia revealed in an April 13 filing with Colombia’s Superfinanciera corporate oversight agency that it has just restarted all cement/concrete production and dispatch operations — thanks to certain Coronavirus quarantine-exemptions newly issued by the national government this month. “In particular, from April 13 to April 27, 2020, in accordance with the

General News

Medellin’s ‘Pico y Cedula’ Numbers Rotate April 13-19, Again for April 20-26

Medellin Herald April 13, 2020

The Medellin Mayor’s office announced last night (April 12) that the “pico y cedula” alternating-days individual permissions for grocery, medicines and banking trips are rotating today (April 13) through April 19, and then a new rotation starts again on April 20. As a result, people with cedula numbers ending in 7, 8 or 9 can […]

Other Norms

Colombia Preparing Coronavirus ‘Protocols’ to Enable Return to Work, Production: President

Medellin Herald April 13, 2020

Colombia President Ivan Duque revealed April 13 that his government is now preparing certain regulatory “protocols” that will allow many people currently in Coronavirus quarantine to return to work, many businesses to reopen and the national economy to restart. “We are preparing to beat the Coronavirus, rather than letting the Coronavirus beat us and destroy […]

General News

Update: Medellin ‘Donaton’ Aids Coronavirus Victims; President Frees Food/Groceries Home Deliveries from Hours Restrictions

Medellin Herald April 12, 2020

Utilities giant EPM and the Mayor of Medellin on April 12 generated more than COP$13 billion (US$3.4 million) worth of private donations – both in cash and also in food — through a televised “Donaton por Medellin” campaign, aiming to help Coronavirus victims and especially poor families. Among the first announcing support for the “Donaton” […]

Health & Insurance.

Medellin Consortium Getting Close to Production of Coronavirus Ventilators; Liquor Manufacturer Now Supplying Disinfectant Alcohol

Medellin Herald April 11, 2020

Three prototypes of mechanical ventilators being developed for Coronavirus victims by metro-Medellin-based Sampedro Medical Industries, the University of Antioquia and the EIA University are now set to move to human trials following successful tests at CES University School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry here. The development teams are now preparing for tests

General News

EPM Utilities Function Normally Despite Coronavirus Crisis; Hidroituango Moving Forward

Medellin Herald April 10, 2020

Medellin-based multinational utilities giant EPM announced April 8 that it continues work on its US$5 billion, 2.4-gigawatt “Hidroituango” hydroelectric dam in Antioquia despite the Cornavirus crisis that forced quarantines on most commercial and industrial operations. “The works currently being carried out in the [Hidroituango] project are among the 34 exceptions