Colombian economy

Colombian Industry Resilient as Oil Prices Plummet; World Bank Hails Policies

Medellin Herald January 19, 2016

Unlike its floundering, oil-dependent neighbors in “socialist” Venezuela and Ecuador, Colombia’s capitalist economy and industrial output are showing resilience, as indicated by the latest Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) statistical survey. The

Colombian economy

Medellin Entrepreneurs Aim to Join Export Boom in ProColombia ‘Mipyme’ Project

Medellin Herald January 19, 2016

Colombia government promotion agency ProColombia announced January 18 the expansion of its “Mipyme International” export business-development project, which now aims to boost exports of goods other than petroleum or minerals to a total of US$21 billion this year. “Following the success of the first edition of Mipyme International in 2015, which helped 33 companies to […]

Colombian economy

Antioquia, Colombia Taking New Steps toward ‘Responsible’ Gold Mining

Medellin Herald October 26, 2015

The just-issued annual report by the metro-Medellin-based Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) finds that Antioquia and other parts of Latin America are starting to make progress in their quest to overcome enormous problems confronting the gold-mining industry. ARM, which created the “Fairmined” certification standard, reports that during 2014, “certified miners sold 500%

Colombian economy

1,000 Biggest Antioquia Companies Account for 80% of Exports

Medellin Herald October 21, 2015

A new study by the Chamber of Commerce of Medellin for Antioquia (CCMA) shows that the biggest 1,030 companies in Antioquia account for 80% of the department’s exports, worth more than US$4 billion annually. These enterprises also represent 52% of Antioquia’s net annual investment in companies, 92% of the business asset base and 53% of […]

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 Colombia. The fund will have an initial capital of US$4 million and will be […]

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

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

Colombian economy

Andi: ‘Global Value Chain’ Opportunities Opening for Colombia: Part One

Medellin Herald September 15, 2015

Colombia’s economy still suffers a hangover as the oil-and-mining boom of the prior six years has predictably turned to bust, according to a new study for Medellin-based Andi, Colombia’s national industrial trade association. But a falling Colombia peso (COP) versus the surging U.S. dollar – combined with the possible emergence of a smarter, strategic tax-and-regulatory

Colombian economy

Brookings: Medellin Best in Latin America for Economic Growth

Medellin Herald September 1, 2015

A new study by the Washington, D.C.-based Brookings Institution found that Medellin surpassed all other Latin American cities in terms of per-capita economic growth  (gross domestic product, or GDP). “Medellin was the highest-performing Latin American metro area in 2014” and 12th overall in the Asia-Pacific region area studied, which includes Colombia, according to

Colombian economy

Andi: ‘Global Value Chain’ Opportunities – Part Two

Medellin Herald August 20, 2015

The “global value chain” opportunities arising for Colombian exporters — identified in a new study for Medellin-based Andi (Colombia’s national industrial trade association) – are already being exploited by several pioneering companies, and could expand much more. According to the Andi study, several pioneering exporters have already learned that the old idea of