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

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

Health & Insurance.

‘Medical Tourism’ Growing, but More Efforts Needed: Medesalud 2015

Medellin Herald October 29, 2015

While the number of foreigners coming to metro Medellin for relatively low-cost, high-quality medical and dental procedures continues to grow, windows of opportunity have only just started to open. Current status: Some 5,600 foreign patients traveled to Medellin last year, spending a total of US$12 million at the 24 affiliates of Medellin’s medical-dental “cluster,”

Expat Businesses

Medellin Developing IT Start-ups, but Sharper Focus Needed: Expert Advice

Medellin Herald October 27, 2015

Following an 18-months-long overland odyssey from Mexico to Argentina, British expat Nick Aldridge came to Medellin four years ago to launch a start-up information technology (IT) company called Kogi Mobile – and found success. Having started with just three people in 2011, Kogi  now has more than 30 techies working in its offices near Parque […]

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 […]

Volunteering

U.S.-Based ‘Emiliani’ Charity Aims to Build Orphanage in Metro Medellin

Medellin Herald October 16, 2015

Following in the footsteps of Saint Jerome Emiliani – a former Italian soldier whose charitable works prompted the Catholic Church to name him the patron saint of orphans – a group led by U.S. military veterans is now spearheading a project that aims to help orphans in metro Medellin. The California-based Emiliani Project – founded by former […]

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