Politics

Colombia Government, FARC Ink Revised ‘Peace’ Deal

Medellin Herald November 13, 2016

Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos announced November 12 that his government and the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) have signed a revised “peace” agreement following five weeks of talks that took place in the wake of a national plebiscite. “This new peace agreement

Companies

Medellin-Based Nutresa, ISA, Conconcreto See 3Q 2016 Earnings Improve

Medellin Herald November 11, 2016

Medellin-based construction giant Conconcreto announced November 9 that its third-quarter (3Q) 2016 net profits rose 23% year-on-year while gross income hit COP$1.1 trillion (US$353 million), up 29% year-on-year. Meanwhile, the company’s order backlog grew to COP$3.4 trillion (US$1.09 billion) — mainly in highway infrastructure projects, but also in the giant

Companies

Medellin-Based Companies Score High in 2016 Merco Reputation Rankings

Medellin Herald November 3, 2016

Medellin-based Bancolombia – Colombia’s biggest bank – once again took first place over-all in the latest Merco rankings for best reputations among Colombian companies. Taking second place was Medellin-based food-products giant Nutresa, with Cementos Argos taking fourth place. Medellin-based Grupo Sura (insurance, finance) took eighth place; Grupo EPM (public utilities)

Politics

Colombian Congress OK’s COP$224 Trillion/US$76 Billion 2017 Budget

Medellin Herald October 20, 2016

The Colombian national Congress on October 19 approved a 2017 budget of COP$224 trillion (US$76 billion) on the same day that the Home Ministry (Ministerio de Hacienda) proposed a new tax-reform scheme that aims to make Colombia more competitive and attract more investment. According to the government, the newly approved budget – 6.6% larger than the current-year […]

Colombian economy

Colombian-American Chamber of Commerce Hails New Import-Export Tools, Rules

Medellin Herald October 20, 2016

The Colombian-American Chamber of Commerce (Cámara de Comercio Colombo Americana) on October 20 hailed recent advances in the “Plan Vallejo” regulatory and reporting scheme that covers imports and exports into-and-out-of Colombia. According to the group (which also calls itself “AmCham Colombia”), the Vallejo Plan now features more-efficient electronic

Colombian economy

Colombia Manufacturing Rebound Strengthens; Up 9.4% Year-on-Year

Medellin Herald October 19, 2016

Colombia’s monthly manufacturing index (“EMM” in Spanish initials) rose 9.4% year-on-year in August 2016 — the latest month for which statistics are available — according to an October 19 report from the national statistics department (Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística-DANE). The recent restart of Ecopetrol’s newly rebuilt “Reficar” refinery

Politics

Medellin, Antioquia Led Colombia to Reject FARC ‘Peace’ Pact

Medellin Herald October 3, 2016

Medellin and Antioquia overwhelmingly voted “no” in the October 2 national plebiscite on whether to ratify a “peace” agreement between Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and the narco-terrorist Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC). While the “no” vote prevailed nationally by 50.23% versus 49.78% for “yes,” 62% of voters in Antioquia rejected the

Companies

Continental Gold Boosts Investment in Socially Responsible Mining in Antioquia

Medellin Herald September 27, 2016

Toronto, Canada-based Continental Gold on September 26 unveiled its first-ever “sustainability” report outlining efforts in favor of environmentally and socially responsible gold mining – mainly at a US$600 million development project at Buriticá, Antioquia. Industrial-scale gold production at Buriticá is expected start in 2019, averaging 253,000 ounces per year over a

Companies

Medellin-Based Agua Bendita Founders Win Prestigious Global Entrepreneur Prize

Medellin Herald September 15, 2016

Agua Bendita – founded by Medellin natives Catalina Álvarez and Mariana Hinestroza – on September 12 joined the winners circle in Massachusetts-based Endeavor’s ‘International Selection Panel’ (ISP) entrepreneurship prize for 2016. The company – which now operates in 50 countries besides Colombia – “creates hand-made, premium swimwear by incorporating modern techniques and

Politics

Colombia Government, FARC Ink Final ‘Peace’ Deal

Medellin Herald August 25, 2016

The Colombian government and leaders of the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) announced August 24 that they finalized a “peace” deal that supposedly would put an end to more than 50 years of a war – a war that began with Soviet Union backing but gradually evolved into narco-terrorist war against Latin America’s oldest […]