General News

BYD Launches Electric-Car Sales Just as Medellin Toughens Air-Pollution Driving Limits

Medellin Herald February 8, 2019

China-based electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer BYD on February 7 launched sales of zero-emissions EV cars at its first-ever retail showroom in Medellin – simultaneous with the Mayor’s office announcing new driving restrictions on polluting vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICEs) for

General News

EPM Shuts Last Water Tunnel to Hidroituango Hydroelectric Dam

Medellin Herald February 5, 2019

Medellin-based multinational electric power giant EPM announced Tuesday, February 5, that it successfully shut the last water-intake tunnel at its giant Hidroituango hydroelectric dam, hence accelerating the planned diversion of the Cauca River over the dam’s engineered spillway by several weeks – and also enabling repairs to begin. Temporarily, the decision means that

Expats Corner

U.S. Embassy in Colombia Issues New ‘Proof of Life’ Rule for Social Security Beneficiaries Here

Medellin Herald February 4, 2019

The U.S. Embassy in Colombia announced February 4 that U.S. citizens living in Colombia and receiving Social Security retirement benefits now have to follow a new procedure to show “proof of life.” According to the Embassy announcement (see:https://co.usembassy.gov/message-for-u-s-social-security-beneficiaries/), “as part of the Foreign Enforcement Program, the Social

Congresses & Conferences

Colombiatex 2019 Sales Deals Jump Dramatically Year-on-Year, Hit US$481 Million

Medellin Herald January 24, 2019

The just-concluded, 31st annual “Colombiatex” textile and clothing trade show at Medellin’s Plaza Mayor convention center here generated an estimated US$481 million in sales expectations for 2019 – an estimated 26% jump over 2018 indications, according to show organizer Inexmoda. Speaking to an overflow crowd of national and international journalists here January 24,

General News

Medellin Wins Global Competition to Launch ‘4th Industrial Revolution’ Research Center

Medellin Herald January 22, 2019

Colombia President Ivan Duque announced January 22 at the World Economic Forum summit in Davos, Switzerland, that Medellin just won a world-wide competition to launch the first “Fourth Industrial Revolution” research center in all of Latin America. Over the next 18 months, the initial research projects at the center will involve artificial intelligence (AI); the […]

General News

BYD Wins Contract for 64 Electric Transit Buses in Medellin

Medellin Herald December 29, 2018

The Medellin Mayor’s Office announced December 28 that China-based electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer BYD won a contract bid to provide 64 pure electric buses for the “Metroplus” bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Medellin. The resulting zero-emissions bus fleet “will be one of the largest in Latin America” and the contract calls for delivery during […]

General News

Foreign Direct Investment in Medellin Tops US$253 Million in 2018

Medellin Herald December 21, 2018

Medellin’s investment promotion agency ACI — Agencia de Cooperacion e Inversion de Medellin y el Area Metropolitana — reported December 21 that foreign direct investment (FDI) in Medellin so far this year has topped US$253 million, or US$11 million over ACI’s initial forecast target. “These investment projects came mostly from Mexico, El Salvador, Italy,

General News

Medellin’s Plaza Mayor Convention Center: Big Growth Continues

Medellin Herald December 19, 2018

The Plaza Mayor convention center — owned by the city of Medellin — reported this month that total events rose to 734 in 2018, up from 539 in 2017 and 480 in 2016. Of that total, 38 events were international (up from 29 in 2017), 68 were national and 628 local, according to conventional center […]

General News

Medellin City Council OKs COP$5.3 Trillion 2019 Budget; Electric-Bus Fleet to Expand

Medellin Herald November 27, 2018

The Medellin City Council on November 26 voted 19-2 to approve a COP$5.3 trillion (US$1.6 billion) 2019 budget mainly favoring the city’s most vulnerable citizens. More than 78% of the budget goes to public education, health, infrastructure and “social inclusion,” according to the city’s Treasury Secretary Orlando Uribe Villa. The budget includes a COP$77 billion […]

General News

Antioquia Will Continue to Dominate Gold Mining in Colombia: CGS Highlights

Medellin Herald November 23, 2018

Antioquia Mining Secretary Dora Elena Balvin revealed at the 2018 edition of the annual Colombia Gold Symposium (CGS) here that Antioquia continues to dominate national gold production – and is likely to expand output dramatically in coming years. One reason for optimism is the well-underway development of Continental Gold’s massive mining project at Buritica, Antioquia,