Companies

ACI Touts Arrival of Swiss Multinational Amaris to Medellin’s ‘Ruta N’

Medellin Herald January 19, 2018

Medellin business-development agency Agencia de Cooperación e Inversión de Medellín y el Área Metropolitana (ACI) announced January 19 that Switzerland-based multinational consultant Amaris plans to expand its Colombian and South American operations following start-up of new offices at

Colombian economy

Colombia’s Banco de la Republica 2018 Survey: Peso/Dollar Range COP$2,800 to COP$3,200

Medellin Herald January 18, 2018

The latest monthly survey of leading banks and financial firms by Colombia’s Banco de la Republica (the national bank) finds that the Colombian peso is likely to trade in a range of COP$2,800 to COP$3,200 per US$1 during 2018, with a foreseen average of COP$2,995/US$1 by year-end. The monthly survey

Colombian economy

Colombia GDP to Rise 2.6% in 2018: Latest United Nations ECLAC Study

Medellin Herald January 16, 2018

In a new study released January 15, the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) finds that Colombia’s gross domestic product (GDP) is likely to rebound to 2.6% growth in 2018, up from 1.8% in 2017. “GDP is projected to expand by 2.6% in 2018 against a backdrop of lower interest […]

Companies

EPM Taps IDB, International Banks for US$1 Billion ‘Hidroituango’ Finance

Medellin Herald December 31, 2017

Medellin-based multinational power giant EPM announced December 29 that it won a US$1 billion credit from the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB) “Invest” funding subsidiary for debt finance of its 2.4-gigawatt, US$5 billion “Hidroituango” hydroelectric project in Antioquia. The credit package includes payback terms of eight-to-12 years. Draws would take place during a

Colombian economy

Mining, Energy Still Crucial to Fix Colombia’s Weak Finances: Fedesarollo

Medellin Herald December 13, 2017

Colombia’s top economic think-tank — Fundación para la Educación Superior y el Desarrollo (Fedesarollo) — on December 13 unveiled a report which finds that mining and energy projects will continue to be crucial to restoration of slumping national government finances. Antioquia is Colombia’s biggest gold-mining department — and hence figures into the

Companies

Fabricato Moving Rionegro Plant to Bello; Notes Anti-Dumping Decision

Medellin Herald December 3, 2017

Medellin-based textile giant Fabricato SA announced November 28 that it has begun the process of moving the entire operations of its “Riotex” factory in Rionegro to its Bello factory – both of which are nearby Medellin. Transfer of dry production units will be completed by January 2018, while the wet production units will move to […]

Companies

EPM’s Nine-Months 2017 Profits Soar 25% Year-on-Year

Medellin Herald December 3, 2017

Medellin-based multinational utilities giant EPM reported November 28 that its net profits for the first nine months of 2017 hit COP$1.6 trillion (US$534 million), up 25% year-on-year, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) rose 22%, to COP$3.9 trillion (US$1.3 billion). So far this year, the city of Medellin – EPM’s sole owner […]

Companies

Antioquia Gold Mining Projects Bloom, but Environmental, Social Issues Remain: Special Report

Medellin Herald November 22, 2017

For more than 150 years, Antioquia has been Colombia’s biggest gold producer — and in-development projects are likely to keep it that way. However, the 320 delegates to the second annual Colombia Gold Symposium (CGS) here in Medellin November 14-15 also heard warnings on real and potential threats to growth — with environmental issues potentially […]

Companies

Medellin-Based Architectural-Engineering Giant AIA Files for Bankruptcy

Medellin Herald November 20, 2017

Colombia’s corporate oversight agency (Superintendencia de Sociedades) announced November 17 that Medellin-based architectural engineering giant Arquitectos e Ingenieros Asociados (AIA) filed for bankruptcy reorganization because of likely delays in paying creditors next year. According to the Superintendencia, AIA reported revenues of COP$179 billion (US$59.6 million) at

Companies

Grupo Familia 3Q 2017 Profits Dip Year-on-Year

Medellin Herald November 17, 2017

Medellin-based multinational personal-hygiene products maker Grupo Familia announced November 15 that its third quarter (3Q) 2017 net profit dipped to COP$44 billion (US$14.6 million), down from CP$51 billion (US$16.9 million) in 3Q 2017. However, for the first nine months of 2017, Familia’s net profit has more than tripled, to COP$159 billion (US$52.8 million), compared