General News

Fitch: Medellin Municipal Bonds Get ‘AAA(col)’ Long-Term Rating

Medellin Herald November 30, 2016

Wall Street bond rater Fitch announced November 23 that it affirmed the city of Medellin’s national long-term bond rating at “AAA(col)” with a “stable” outlook and the short-term rating at ‘F1+(col)’. Fitch has also affirmed the Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at “BBB.” While

Tourism

Iberia Launches Nonstop Medellin-Madrid Flights in March

Medellin Herald November 30, 2016

Spanish airline Iberia announced November 24 that it will launch three-times-a-week, nonstop service between Medellin’s international airport and Madrid starting March 26 – hence eliminating the current stop in Cali, Colombia. The flights will employ the new A330-200 Airbus planes – 269 seats in tourist-class section and 19 seats in the business-class section, according to

General News

Plane Crash Near Medellin Airport Claims Brazilian Soccer Team

Medellin Herald November 29, 2016

A BAe-146 jet aircraft (photo above) operated by Bolivia-based charter airline LaMia crashed near Medellin’s Jose Maria Cordoba (JMC) international airport around 10 p.m. November 28, killing 75 passengers and crew — including most of the members of the “Chapecoense” Brazilian soccer team. According to the official press statement from JMC airport operator Airplan,

Health & Insurance.

Health Care in Medellin: English Options Expanding for Expats, Medical Tourists

Medellin Herald November 26, 2016

Medellin’s hospital, clinic and dental sector enjoys an expanding reputation for high quality and relatively low prices — which explains why an increasing number of resident expats and medical tourists come here for all sorts of surgical procedures. Part of the reason for these success stories can be credited to the bilingual Salud Sin Fronteras […]

General News

Medellin, Bogota Suffer Nation’s Worst Air Pollution: IDEAM

Medellin Herald November 24, 2016

Colombia’s national Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM) on November 23 unveiled a new “Air Quality Report 2011-2015” showing that Medellin and Bogota suffer the worst air pollution in the nation. By 2015, the most contaminated areas with air-pollution monitoring stations were the Kennedy neighborhood of Bogota (for “PM 10” coarse

General News

Israel Inks US$77 Million Investment Deal for Antioquia Hydroponic Farm Project

Medellin Herald November 22, 2016

Antioquia Governor Luis Perez and Israeli Ambassador to Colombia Marco Sermoneta jointly announced November 21 that Israeli companies will invest US$77 million in a novel hydroponic farm project near the town of San Roque in Northeast Antioquia. The farm project in the El Nus township would produce tomatoes, sweet peppers and other vegetables on a […]

Congresses & Conferences

‘Responsible Mining’ Dominates Colombia Gold Symposium in Medellin

Medellin Herald November 18, 2016

While Colombia’s gold-mining sector historically has too-often suffered from environmental destruction, violence, land invasions, intromission of guerilla/criminal groups and loud protests from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and citizens, Antioquia is starting to show real progress in socially and environmentally responsible mining. In numerous presentations to the

General News

Medellin’s Crucial ‘Mar 1’ Highway Project Construction Starts

Medellin Herald November 18, 2016

Construction consortium Devimar announced November 11 that it signed the official start-up document for the “Mar 1” highway project linking Medellin westward to Cañasgordas (see map above) and rehabilitation of the existing Bolombolo-Santa Fe de Antioquia highway. The project will create a four-lane divided highway between Medellin and Santa Fe de Antioquia – including a

General News

Medellin’s ‘Ruta N,’ Convention & Visitors Bureau Tout Hits, Initiatives

Medellin Herald November 11, 2016

The “Ruta N” high-tech innovation center partly funded by the Medellin city government announced November 10 the launch of an “Innovation Managers II” program, which aims to help 121 local companies train 261 managers in corporate innovation projects. The latest initiative follows on the heels of “Innovation Managers 2015,” which led to the creation of […]

General News

Medellin’s ‘Ruta N,’ Convention & Visitors Bureau Tout Hits, Initiatives

Medellin Herald November 11, 2016

The “Ruta N” high-tech innovation center partly funded by the Medellin city government announced November 10 the launch of an “Innovation Managers II” program, which aims to help 121 local companies train 261 managers in corporate innovation projects. The latest initiative follows on the heels of “Innovation Managers 2015,” which led to the creation of […]