General News

Metro Medellin to Host Colombia’s Biggest Shopping Mall: Viva-Exito

Medellin Herald November 16, 2015

Medellin-based chain retailer Grupo Exito announced November 12 that it will build Colombia’s biggest shopping mall – not in Bogota, but rather in the Medellin suburb of Envigado. The COP$600 billion (US$195 million), 300,000-square-meters “Viva” mall will host 240 other retailers in addition

General News

Antioquia, Medellin to See Huge Economic Boost from Infrastructure Projects

Medellin Herald November 5, 2015

Big infrastructure projects now underway including the “Prosperity Highways,” the “Toyo” tunnel, the new “Port Antioquia,” the “Navelena” dredging project on the Magdalena River, and the giant “HidroItuango” hydroelectric project collectively will bring a huge economic and social boost to Antioquia and Medellin starting in the next five years — and continuing long

General News

Ministry of Environment: Medellin Environmental Quality Best in Colombia

Medellin Herald November 2, 2015

The Ministry of Environment on October 29 unveiled a study showing that Medellin ranks best among all Colombian cities in environmental quality – but with only a “moderate” ranking. On a scale of zero (horrible) to 80-and-above (excellent), Medellin took first place with a 55 rating, followed by Bogota ((50.9) and Ibague (45.2). The worst […]

General News

Merco Ranking: Medellin-Based Corporations Best in Colombia

Medellin Herald November 2, 2015

Spain-based corporate-reputation analyst Merco found in a new survey and study that Medellin-based Grupo Bancolombia is now the highest-ranked company in Colombia — and led by Colombia’s best corporate leader: Carlos Raúl Yepes (see photo, above). In the latest study, banking giant Bancolombia leaped over Colombian national oil company Ecopetrol to take first place

General News

‘Pacifico 1, 2’ Prosperity Highway Financing Complete: Antioquia Boosts Pacific Link

Medellin Herald October 22, 2015

Colombia’s national infrastructure agency (ANI) announced October 21 that financial close has now been achieved on the “Pacifico 1” (Medellin to Bolombolo) highway project and the related “Pacifico 2” (Bolombolo to La Pintada) projects. Both projects will speed freight traffic links between Antioquia and the key Pacific port of Buenaventura, as well as links between […]

General News

Antioquia’s ‘Prosperity Highways’ Will Boost Economy, Jobs, Transport: Study

Medellin Herald October 21, 2015

A new study by the University of Antioquia and University Pontificia Bolivariana (UPB) finds that Antioquia’s COP$12 trillion (US$4 billion) “Prosperity Highways” to be built over the next five years will have a huge impact on economic growth, jobs and freight transport logistics. Antioquia’s gross domestic product (“PIB” in Spanish initials) will double within 14 […]

General News

Medellin’s ‘French Connection’ Key to New Electric Tram Systems

Medellin Herald October 21, 2015

Medellin’s investment promotion agency ACI (Agencia de Cooperacion e Inversion de Medellin y el Area Metropolitana) on October 20 touted the city’s French connection for a just-launched, road-based tram system as well as two new, related aerial trams. The roadway and aerial tramway systems – financed via a US$250 million credit from Agence Française de […]

General News

Antioquia’s Gross Domestic Product Grew 7% in 2014: DANE

Medellin Herald October 20, 2015

Colombia’s national statistics agency (DANE) on October 18 released an analysis showing that Antioquia’s gross domestic product (“PIB” in Spanish initials) grew 7% for all of 2014 – third best in all Colombia and more than one-third greater than the PIB growth in Bogota. The construction industry was a key driver in Antioquia’s 2014 PIB […]

General News

Antioquia Awards Construction Contract for Crucial ‘Toyo Tunnel’ Project

Medellin Herald October 15, 2015

The Antioquia departmental government announced October 14 that contracts have now been finalized for construction of the 9.75-kilometers-long “Toyo Tunnel” project — part of a crucial highway connection between Medellin and a new freight port being built on the Caribbean coast. The “Antioquia to the Sea” consortium that won the “Toyo” contracts — worth

General News

Antioquia Outshines All Colombia in Institutional Management, Public Finances

Medellin Herald October 14, 2015

A just released study by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (Cepal, in Spanish initials) finds that Antioquia continues to surpass all other departments in Colombia for institutional management and public finances. Antioquia also ranks second (behind Cundinamarca) in over-all “competitiveness,” according to the study. However, the