General News

Medellin Voters Elect Independent Daniel Quintero Calle for Mayor; Former Governor, Mayor Anibal Gaviria Repeats as Antioquia Governor

Medellin Herald October 28, 2019

Voters in Medellin and the surrounding Antioquia department on October 27 continued a long tradition of electing relatively young, energetic, politically moderate mayors along with older, more-experienced governors who are more interested in delivering practical, concrete results rather than

Companies

Nutresa 3Q 2019 Net Profit Grows 6.9% Year-on-Year

Medellin Herald October 26, 2019

Medellin-based multinational foods giant Grupo Nutresa on October 25 reported that third quarter (3Q) 2019 net profits grew 6.9% year-on-year, to COP$412 billion (US$121 million). Consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) likewise rose 18% year-on-year, to COP$992 billion (US$292 million), while margin on sales grew by 13.8%,

Companies

Cemex Colombia 3Q 2019 Cement Sales Grow, but Profits Dip

Medellin Herald October 25, 2019

Colombia-based Cemex LatAm Holdings announced October 24 that its third-quarter (3Q) 2019 sales of grey cement grew year-on-year, but profits declined. According to Cemex LatAm – which produces and markets concrete and cement in Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Guatemala – 3Q 2019 produced a corporate-wide net loss of US$4 million, compared […]

Ecotourism

Medellin’s 6th Annual Bird Festival October 10-14: Great Chances to See, Hear & Learn About Our Amazing Wild Birds, Nature

Medellin Herald October 4, 2019

The 6th annual Medellin Bird Festival (organized by Sociedad Antioqueña de Ornitologia, SAO) kicks off October 10-14 with a colorful variety of birdwatching opportunities, expert conferences, special workshops and film festivals. The annual event (see: https://festivaldelasavesmedellin.com) is officially sponsored by the city of Medellin and taps dozens of allies including

Infrastructure

Crucial ‘Vias del Nus’ Highway Between Medellin, Atlantic Ports to Open at End-2020

Medellin Herald October 3, 2019

Colombia’s Agencia Nacional de Infraestructura (ANI, the national infrastructure agency) announced October 2 that the crucial “Vias del Nus” connecting Medellin’s northern suburbs to Atlantic ports will open for traffic by end-2020. The 157.4-kilometers-long project includes 24.3 kilometers of four-lane divided highway, the twin-tube “Túnel de la Quiebra” tunnels,

Infrastructure

EPM: Enormous Environmental, Fiscal Benefits Nationally & Locally as Hidroituango Recovery Begins

Medellin Herald September 28, 2019

Medellin-based power giant EPM on September 27 gave journalists a first public tour of the start of recovery work in the damaged machine room of the US$5 billion, 2.4-gigawatt “Hidroituango” hydroelectric project in Antioquia. Having already reached crucial milestones including completion of the engineered spillway, raising the dam to its final height and draining water

Infrastructure

Update: EPM Notes that Controller General’s Hidroituango Report Doesn’t Find Corruption, Malfeasance

Medellin Herald September 20, 2019

Medellin-based electric power giant EPM on September 25 issued a bulletin pointing out that nothing in the latest Colombian Controller General’s report about the US$5 billion “Hidroituango” hydroelectric project in Antioquia finds any instances of corruption. Nor does the Controller’s report point to any criminal or disciplinary actions that would result from the April

Companies

EPM Wins Hidroituango Insurance Claim Worth Trillions; Finance Outlook Dramatically Improves

Medellin Herald September 17, 2019

EPM general manager Jorge Londoño de la Cuesta revealed in a September 17 press conference here in Medellin that insurer Mapfre just issued a letter of coverage worth trillions of Colombian pesos for damages at the under-construction, US$5 billion Hidroituango hydroelectric plant in Antioquia. The exact amount of payment won’t be known for months, as […]

Events

Colombian Pop Star Carlos Vives Inaugurates ‘Gaira Café’ at Medellin’s JMC Airport

Medellin Herald September 12, 2019

Colombian music star Carlos Vives first gained international fame in 1993 by bringing traditional vallenato music to the whole world, via the sensational hit-single, “La Gota Fria.” Ever since, Vives’ pioneering group “La Provincia” has frequently topped the Latin American pop-music charts — as well as popular music-video internet links. Besides winning numerous

Professional services

Big Fleets Here Tap Eletech for ‘Mobileye,’ ‘Ituran’ Technologies to Cut Accidents, Waste, Losses

Medellin Herald September 4, 2019

Big corporate fleets in and around Medellin and across Colombia increasingly are turning to sophisticated vehicle technologies in order to avoid accidents, cut fuel costs, avoid merchandise damage, monitor driver behavior and improve routing. Among local fleets employing and/or evaluating novel “Mobileye” and “Ituran” systems are insurance giant Sura, cement maker Cemex,