General News

Proantioquia: Medellin, Antioquia Must Boost Industrial Specialization, Education, Infrastructure

Medellin Herald August 21, 2019

A new report from Medellin-based think-tank Proantioquia shows that the Medellin metro area and the surrounding Antioquia department must redouble efforts to boost industrial specialization, public education, public health and transport infrastructure in order to meet the challenges of the

Infrastructure

Responsible Social Leaders Join Hidroituango Stability-Study Forum

Medellin Herald August 16, 2019

Medellin-based electric power giant EPM announced August 15 that local leaders from communities around Puerto Valdivia, Antioquia are now participating in a broad government/citizen/EPM expert panel examining possible stability issues with the main rock massif adjacent to the giant Hidroituango hydroelectric dam in Antioquia. The decision to include the “MEDAV” (Mesa de

Infrastructure

‘Pacifico 1’ Project Engineers Begin Recovery Work Following Landslide

Medellin Herald August 15, 2019

The “Covipacifico” highway construction consortium announced August 14 that its engineers have begun initial work towards recovery of a 300-meters-long section of the crucial, under-construction “Pacifico 1” highway wiped out by a landslide last May. The landslide not only destroyed the new section of highway but also wrecked a 300-meters-long section of existing highway

Infrastructure

Medellin’s Long-Awaited ‘Tunel del Oriente’ Finally Opens; Connects to JMC Airport

Medellin Herald August 15, 2019

After decades of delays, a new, COP$1.1 trillion (US$317 million), 24-kilometers-long highway — including Colombia’s longest tunnel – on August 15 opened to link Medellin directly to the Jose Maria Cordoba (JMC) international airport at Rionegro. According to Concesion Tunel Aburra-Oriente (CTAO, the project consortium involving 74 companies), the new highway —

Infrastructure

Antioquia’s ‘Mar 2’ Highway to Atlantic Ports Wins Financing; ‘Sinifana’ Tunnel Makes Progress

Medellin Herald July 31, 2019

Colombia’s national infrastructure agency (Agencia Nacional de Infraestructura, ANI) announced July 31 that the 254-kilometers-long “Mar 2” highway project connecting Medellin to new Atlantic ports just won financial close. According to ANI, the project got US$652 million in finance from three sources: China Development Bank (US$418 million), Sumitomo Mitsui Banking (US$84

Congresses & Conferences

Colombiamoda 2019 Sales Deals Seen at US$143 Million

Medellin Herald July 26, 2019

Medellin-based textile and clothing industry trade group Inexmoda announced July 25 that the just-concluded, 30th annual “Colombiamoda” fashion show here generated sales deals estimated at US$143 million. While that’s a 15% dip from last year’s Colombiamoda sales estimate, it’s still a positive sign for Colombia’s fashion industry, with Medellin and Antioquia continuing to

Medellin + Antioquia news

Medellin Census: 2.37 Million Residents Now; ‘Quality of Life’ Best in Colombia

Medellin Herald July 14, 2019

Colombia’s national statistics agency (DANE) on July 12, 2019 revealed that the 2018 national census found Medellin’s resident population hit 2.37 million, up 7.6% from the last census in 2005. Meanwhile, the adjacent suburbs in Valle de Aburra grew by 12% over the same period, with the result that Medellin plus its neighboring suburbs now […]

Infrastructure

Medellin’s JMC International Airport Cargo Terminal Expansion Nearly Complete; Passenger Traffic Soars

Medellin Herald July 13, 2019

Colombia’s national infrastructure agency (Agencia Nacional de Infraestructura, ANI) announced July 12, 2019 that the COP$110 billion (US$34 million) expansion of the cargo terminal at Medellin’s José María Córdova (JMC) international airport is nearly complete. “The project awarded by ANI to the operator of Aeropuertos Centro Norte (Airplan) seeks via this extension to

Expats Corner

Colombia among best countries for expats making friends Internations survey March 2019

Medellin Herald July 11, 2019

Infrastructure

EPM hidroituango collapse study March 2019

Medellin Herald July 11, 2019

EPM: DESIGN FLAW CAUSED HIDROITUANGO TUNNEL COLLAPSE; RECOVERY UNDERWAY Medellin-based multinational electric power giant EPM on March 1, 2019 unveiled a long-awaited consultant’s report on the causes behind the April 2018 tunnel collapse that has resulted in a three-year delay in power output from the 2.4-gigawatt “Hidroituango” hydroelectric plant in Antioquia. “The