General News

Medellin Cost-of-Living a Relative Bargain; Health Care Outstanding: Global Survey

Medellin Herald January 22, 2016

The latest consumer-generated survey results compiled by global database analyst Numbeo find that Medellin is a relative bargain compared to other major cities in South America, while Medellin’s health-care system quality is ranked best in all of the Americas. Besides beating-out the U.S. and

Congresses & Conferences

Medellin Hosts 33,000 Visitors for Annual ‘Colombiatex’ Textile-Industry Spectacle

Medellin Herald January 21, 2016

The 28th annual “Colombiatex” textile industry conference and trade show January 26-28 at Medellin’s Plaza Mayor convention center is expected to draw some 33,000 national and international visitors, more than 500 exhibitors and some 11,000 buyers. According to Medellin-based show organizer Inexmoda – Colombia’s leading textile- and fashion-industry trade association –

General News

Antioquia Highway Projects Get Financial Boost from Medellin-Based Isagen Sale

Medellin Herald January 13, 2016

Medellin-based electric power producer Isagen announced January 13 that a consortium led by a subsidiary of Toronto, Canada-based Brookfield Asset Management (BAM) paid COP$6.49 trillion (US$2.2 billion) for the Colombian government’s remaining 57% stake in Isagen. The other 43% of Isagen shares are held partly by private investors and partly by Medellin-based electric

Opportunities

Renault, Ernst & Young, High-Tech Companies Seek Bilingual Medellin Candidates

Medellin Herald January 11, 2016

Medellin continues to spark demand for high-tech and management-level professionals – especially those with bilingual (Spanish-English) skills — as evidenced by a continuing flurry of postings by multinationals as well as national companies. Among several recent postings to Linkedin: EY: Global consultancy Ernst & Young (EY) is seeking a senior auditor for

Tourism

ProColombia Touts Tourist Growth; New Niche Opportunities for Antioquia

Medellin Herald January 11, 2016

Colombian government business development promotion agency ProColombia announced January 6 that business and pleasure-oriented tourism to Colombia continues to grow thanks in part to expanded non-stop international flight offerings to major cities including Medellin. For all of 2015, “more than 2.3 million international travelers contributed US$2.4 billion to Colombia’s

General News

Wall Street Bond Rater Affirms ‘Stable’ Outlook for Medellin Public Debt

Medellin Herald December 22, 2015

U.S.-based bond rater Fitch announced December 21 that it has affirmed a “stable” outlook for Medellin’s public debt. “The rating action reflects Medellin’s financial strength, its importance in [Colombia’s] national context as well as its manageable debt metrics,” according to Fitch. The city benefits from a “high and dynamic collection of municipal taxes and

General News

Conconcreto Nabs French Investor Vinci; Unveils Antioquia Port Project

Medellin Herald December 21, 2015

Medellin-based construction giant Conconcreto announced December 17 that it finalized a COP$289 billion (US$86 million) “strategic” investment deal whereby France-based global infrastructure project-development giant Vinci will take a 20% equity stake in Conconcreto. The new alliance not only combines the engineering and construction experience of both companies but also

General News

Foreign Direct Investment in Medellin tops US$821 Million; USA Biggest Source: ACI

Medellin Herald December 21, 2015

The Agency for Cooperation and Investment of Medellin and the Metropolitan Area (ACI) announced December 16 that Medellin nabbed US$821.6 million in foreign direct investment (FDI) from 2012 to 2015 — with FDI investments in 2015 alone breaking all previous records. In 2015 alone, Medellin attracted US$248.9 million in FDI, while the city also separately […]

Opportunities

IBM, Microsoft, Acciona, Altran Latest to Seek High-Tech Applicants in Medellin

Medellin Herald December 21, 2015

Medellin continues to attract more multinational companies seeking high-tech job applicants, with U.S.-based computer giant IBM, Spain-based engineering-construction outfit Acciona and Spain-based tech giant Altran among the latest to post “Linkedin” listings. According to one such posting this month, Acciona is seeking a Medellin-based controller for its construction

Volunteering

U.S.-Based Foundation in Medellin Expanding High-Tech Aid for Poorer Farmers

Medellin Herald December 11, 2015

Washington, D.C.-based non-governmental organization (NGO) Grameen Foundation announced December 1 that it just hired former Colombian Corporation for Agriculture and Livestock Research (Corpoica) planning director Fernando Henao Velasco as its new, Medellin-based director for all rural-aid projects in Colombia. Henao’s “deep knowledge of Colombia’s agricultural sector and