The Observatory of Public Sector Innovation – OPSI of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development – OECD- highlighted MEData and Día Blanco, two best practices of Medellín for their innovation and inspiration in the promotion of research on open government trends.

ACI Medellín, the Administrative Department of Municipal Planning and the Secretariat of Citizen Participation of the Medellín Mayor’s Office, carried out the application of these initiatives to the OPSI platform of the OECD, thus contributing to the international positioning of Medellín and its best practices.

MEData is Medellín’s commitment to an intelligent government, which allows the opening, appropriation, and use of public data for decision-making. It is the only open government data strategy in the country which promotes and encourages the use of data by citizens, with a different approach based on their capacities and needs.

On the other hand, Día Blanco [White Day] promotes the creation of trusting bonds and legitimacy among communities. This innovative experience has mobilized more than 35,000 citizens in the last 3 years through social accountability exercises where local and community organizations inform their communities about their management and impact on local development.

OPSI is a global forum for public sector innovation that works with governments to encourage them to use new approaches and address complex societal problems through tools, connections, and training for public servants.

Colombia joined the OECD in 2018, in other words, the country earned a space to exchange best practices between member countries, among other benefits.

To learn more about these initiatives and visit the Observatory consult the following links: MEData and Día Blanco.

Medellín is fourth in the ranking of American Cities of the Future by fDi Intelligence in the category foreign direct investment strategy. fDi Intelligence is a global market intelligence service specialized in investment, promotion, and economic development, of the British magazine Financial Times.

Download the complete report [here]

The ranking seeks to highlight the most promising cities in terms of foreign investment based on the analysis of global market attraction data from the specialized firm fDi.

New York, Chicago, and Montreal are the top three on the list and Medellín is the first Latin American city in the ranking.

The article highlights Medellín’s privileged position due to its significant investment in creative industries, infrastructure, construction, tourism, textiles, health services and industries 4.0; also for its tax incentives as a stimulus from local government and its commitment to the development of film production, since it is the only city in Colombia with a film commission.

ACI Medellín and the Secretariat of Economic Development have undertaken an articulated work to encourage the attraction of foreign investment, the promotion of Medellín as an investment destination, and the strengthening of the capacities of the different sectors of development.

 “Es un gran orgullo para Medellín. La inversión extranjera directa llega a nuestra ciudad porque hemos logrado construir confianza. Hemos tejido una relación estrecha, basada en los propósitos comunes con el sector empresarial, el académico y la ciudadanía”, destacó el Alcalde, Federico Gutiérrez Zuluaga.

El estudio resalta la labor de la Agencia de Cooperación e Inversión y el Área Metropolitana, ACI Medellín, como entidad promotora y facilitadora de la atracción de inversión extranjera directa en la ciudad, en estrecha colaboración con diferentes cámaras de comercio del país y Procolombia.

“We received this recognition as a commitment which invites us to continue strengthening the city’s articulation strategies and the actions to attract foreign investment into the city. This is reflected in the generation of qualified employment, dynamization of the different economic sectors of the city for the improvement of the economic development and quality of life of our inhabitants” Federico Gutiérrez Zuluaga, Mayor of Medellín, said.

On Monday, June 3, Ruta N and ACI Medellín will host the event Why Medellín? at WeWork’s facilities in San Francisco, United States. These spaces seek to show the strengths of the city as a destination for the investment of companies devoted to science, technology, and innovation.

It will be a good opportunity to make Medellín known as the ideal city for the installation of foreign companies.

Next Monday, June 3, Medellín will be in the spotlight of investors in the facilities of WeWork San Francisco: 600 California Street, 11th floor. This will be a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs interested in investing in the city to know the advantages Medellín offers for the installation of foreign companies.

Together with Ruta N, ACI Medellín will also carry out a networking workshop aimed to strengthen the bonds of Medellín with important technology and innovation companies.

In addition to the capabilities offered by the city for new investors, the recent opening of the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution will be another topic of interest to raise awareness during the realization of the event.

Entrepreneurs are welcome to attend this Why Medellin? in San Francisco, it is a free event and open to the business public. Registration at the following link: [ click ]

Casa Nua MG, a project operator specialized in the elderly, sets its first assisted living project in Medellín as the beginning of its expansion plan in the country. Casa Nua San Lucas is their first project of this kind in the city. It is located in El Poblado and will start operations in August 2019, advised by Active Living International and CES University

Casa Nua is a platform for residential projects with comprehensive solutions for the elderly, in which they will receive specialized attention and lodging. The residents will have health and recreation programs, physical activities, food, a library, education, culture, among other welfare components.

The project responds to global trends of increasing population age and the demand for solutions for an increasingly active age group with possibilities to explore new options to enjoy their adult years. In Colombia, the percentage of people over 60 years old represents 9.23% of the total population, according to data from the last census of 2018.

Medellin was chosen for its good development conditions: high levels of services for the elderly, specialized human talent, a favorable climate for their well-being and institutional support through the public policy of aging and old age, materialized in the Gerontological Plan 2017-2027 of the Medellín Mayor’s Office.

Bernardo Azuaje, a founding partner of Casa Nua, highlighted Medellín’s investment potential and its good real estate valuation, which favors infrastructure and the acquisition of services.

Acamica consolidates its educational offer in Colombia with an initial investment of more than $ 300,000,000 and agile and highly certified innovative methodologies. The Argentinian technology academy is one of the most important in Latin America and it will offer its online classes since the beginning of 2019 in Medellín.

Their arrival in the city is part of a global expansion plan, which aims to train 10,000 professionals in technology in Latin America by the year 2020. Acamica will open spaces for more than 1,000 students in Medellín between 2019 and 2020.

“We chose Medellín because we consider it a central hub of innovation and technology in Latin America. The industries and talent of the future are being developed here, and that is why it is essential to deepen in the training in software development, artificial intelligence and data science” Tomás Escobar, CEO and co-founder of Acamica said.

Under a collaborative economy model, which at the same time proposes an immersive learning experience in real workspaces, the first in-person courses in Full Stack Web Development, UXU I Design, and Data Science will take place in the facilities of leading IT companies such as Globant.

Acamica

It is a short-careers academy focused on training digital talent with an innovative methodology enhanced with its own tools and a key differentiator: the association with leading companies such as Globant, IBM, Aerolab and Mercado Libre to create and certify the programs.

The capital of Antioquia will become a regional platform for the development of public policies and regulations for the implementation of technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution will put Colombia at the forefront of regulatory matters. Also, it will enable the creation of quality jobs, seize international knowledge networks, and the development of new businesses.

The joint contributions between the Presidency of Colombia and the Municipality of Medellin and the allocation of more than 3 million dollars allowed the opening of this Center.  

The World Economic Forum opens Latin America’s first Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Medellín and the fifth in the world. This will position the city as an international benchmark in the progress towards a new model of business, economic and cultural development. Medellín was chosen for its innovative culture in science, technology and entrepreneurship, and its social and economic transformation. This initiative is achieved thanks to a partnership between the National Government and the Medellín Mayor’s Office.

The Center will begin operating in the Ruta N facilities and will focus on developing public policy frameworks to accompany Colombia and the countries of the region in the implementation of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

“Colombia feels extremely proud about hosting one of the three centers for the Fourth Industrial Revolution which will be inaugurated in 2019,” said President Ivan Duque, after stating that our country became the first in Latin America and the first Spanish-speaking one, hosting a Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He said, “This Center will have a great global and regional impact.”

He added that, indeed, Medellín will become the regional epicenter of the development of important topics such as Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things and the blockchain technology for encrypted security.

Likewise, he indicated that this Center will allow “developers, public agencies and the private sector to present projects which can be scaled worldwide.”

The Center Affiliated with the World Economic Forum for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Colombia will begin to work specifically on projects aimed at improving public-private capacities, defining the necessary regulatory frameworks to address issues like corruption, and generating opportunities for people through the implementation of technologies such as Blockchain, Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence.

“Having the allied Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Colombia and for Latin America in Medellín is a very important recognition. This is a city that has been increasing its investment in science, technology and innovation to transform its economic vocation, and supporting its institutional strength. For the new technologies can generate economic and social development, our purpose is for this Center to focus on a revolution not only on technology, but on talent,” said the mayor of Medellín, Federico Gutiérrez Zuluaga.

Although this Center will not be focused on the development of technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, nor on technological research, it will do so in structuring regulatory frameworks supported by other the centers which can carry out this type of activities.

“Colombia is taking a step forward as a leader in the Fourth Industrial Revolution with this new Centre in Medellin. They are the first to open a Centre like this in Latin America. Emerging technologies can benefit all of society, but they must be shaped. We are looking forward to working with Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Colombia to accelerate and scale what we have learned across our global network of Centres” said Murat Sonmez, Member of the Managing Board and Head of the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Network.

The global network of Centers for the Fourth Industrial Revolution brings together governments, leading companies, civil society and experts from around the world to jointly design and test innovative approaches applied to policies and governance of technological development. The network will develop, implement and replicate pilot projects focused on the human being that can be adopted by policymakers, legislators and regulatory bodies around the world.

The Agency for Cooperation and Investment of Medellín and the Metropolitan Area – ACI Medellín, will present the reasons why Medellín is an ideal destination for foreign investment to businessmen and executives interested in investing in the city. This event will take place on Tuesday, April 30 from 1:00 pm at the Capital Factory facilities, ACL Room (701 Brazos Street, Suite 1601 – Austin, TX 78701 United States); and next May 2 at the same time in Miami, Florida, at the Consulate of Colombia located in 280 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables FL33134.

Austin, the capital of the state of Texas, stands out as one of the most enterprising cities in the United States and is home to large multinational companies.

Miami, the economic capital of Florida, headquarters important infrastructure and real estate companies.

These meetings are called Why Medellín? and have become the tools for ACI Medellín to present investors with the advantages of the city as a business destination, its investment climate, its innovation ecosystem, and its growth as a technological development hub.

Supported by entities such as Procolombia, Ruta N and Capital Factory, the meeting will show some success stories of American companies installed in Medellín: Accenture, DAPI, IBM, Team International, Astound Commerce, Owens Illinois, Stanley Black & Decker, among others.

Medellín will host the first Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Latin America, joining the network of centers in San Francisco (United States), Tokyo (Japan), Beijing (China) and Mumbai (India). 

Teleperformance is a worldwide leader in customer service solutions with a presence in 80 countries, serving more than 170 markets and 25 years of experience in Colombia. They are considered as one of the five largest employers in Colombia and one of the main sources of first employment.

The company closed 2018 with 18 thousand employees in its operations centers in Bogota and Medellín. In the first half of 2019, they will open a new operations center in Medellín.

After the acquisition of Teledatos in 2010, Teleperformance began operating in Medellín and then expanded its services to Bogotá, where they work with large multinationals in the health, transportation, energy, food, services, entertainment, and other sectors.

As part of its expansion plans, they will open a new services center in Medellín during the first half of this year with the best technological infrastructure, solid energy conditions, connectivity, and human capital.

Ruta N, Procolombia and ACI Medellín have supported Teleperformance in its expansion process, developing innovation projects, attracting bilingual talent and positioning the company in the local market.

“Customer service in Colombia is one of the best in the world because of the good attitude of young Colombians. Teleperformance not only exports services, but also talent and innovation. Many of our clients use technological tools developed in their home countries which are now considered to be best practices in other offices at the international level” said Juan Carlos Hincapié, CEO of Teleperformance in Colombia.

The North American real estate firm RE/MAX arrived in Colombia in 2010 and currently has 35 offices and more than 350 associated agents. They opened their first facilities in Medellín in December 2018 and will open two new offices in Laureles and Envigado.

The international real estate company RE/MAX, with more than 40 years in the market, continues its expansion plan in Medellín with the opening of new offices.

RE/MAX included Medellín in their expansion plan for its real estate potential, its projection as a destination for the foreign market, the country’s political and economic conditions, and the availability of human talent, among others. “Colombia’s talent, especially the one in Medellín, is key for our project. We want to highlight the entrepreneurial spirit which is key in our way of doing things,” says María Eugenia Hermelo, general manager of the company.

Since December 2018, they started operations in Medellín with its RE/MAX Coffee Realty, a collaborative and experiential space which offers their agents a place to develop real estate businesses.

Its operations in the city consist of facilitating the real estate purchase and sale in the local and international market. This is possible due to the connection with its worldwide network of 8,500 offices in 105 countries.RE/MAX brings to Medellín a professional real estate brokerage model which benefits buyers, sellers, investors, builders, and developers.

The Role of ACI Medellín

The company acknowledges the role of ACI Medellín during its exploration and installation process in the city and highlights the importance of being clear about the conditions and advantages for foreign investment in the territory. Also, they value ACI Medellín’s support in positioning them in the local market, attracting and connecting them with investors to strengthen their relationship.

The French group Accor, the world’s leading operator in the travel and tourism sector, bought the Atton chain and changed the name of the El Tesoro shopping mall to Novotel.

Novotel has 278 beds and the total operation sums up an investment of 73,000 million pesos .

Novotel has chosen Medellín for being one of Colombia’s main financial, industrial, commercial, and service centers with one of the best strategic locations. In recent years, hosting national and international events, and receiving major national and international companies have made Medellín an important development hub for the country.

“Accor got to South America more than 40 years ago. Today, we have more than 350 hotels in Latin America and we want to increase that figure by the year 2022. Novotel is one of our best brands and we want it to be present in all the metropolis of the country. That is why we are in Medellín.” said Frank Pruvost, General Manager Mid & Eco – South America Hispana Accor.

Mr. Pruvost said that, after Brazil, Colombia is Accor’s second market. They plan to open other hotels of the 35 brands they operate, including Ibis, which already has a hotel in Medellin and Swissôtel.

Special report on Investment: 2016, 2017, 2018:

The interest Medellín generates to the world due to its social and urban transformation and constant innovation have become the gateway for entrepreneurs and investors to consider establishing their companies in the territory.

ACI Medellín makes the city-region visible in different scenarios to generate confidence amongst investors. Also, it seeks to aim efforts and initiatives to favor the city’s inhabitants through the generation of employment, the transfer of its best business practices and the improvement of local infrastructure.

The interest Medellín generates to the world due to its social and urban transformation and constant innovation has become the gateway for entrepreneurs and investors to consider establishing their companies in the territory.

During the first three years of this administration, the city has achieved a historical figure in terms of investment: 836.61 million U.S. dollars through companies from Canada, China, Denmark, El Salvador, Spain, the United States, France, Guatemala, Mexico, and Switzerland.

The relationship of ACI Medellín with the companies interested in expanding in the territory has led them to trust in the capacities of the city. In several cases, these companies reinvest their capital. Thus, between 2016 and 2018, 73 investments and reinvestments became a reality, mainly in terms of infrastructure and real estate, manufacturing, industries 4.0, aerospace and life sciences.

This joint work with national and foreign companies in Medellín generates an employment dynamic which benefits the region, improving the business fabric and boosting its installed capacities. This is translated into the creation of 8,911 jobs during these last three years.

Why Medellín? That’s the question the Agency attempts to solve to investors who explore the city as a possible option to expand their business. This strategy seeks a proactive relationship with entrepreneurs in their own territory. Since 2016 to date, 23 events called Why Medellín? have been carried out in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Spain, the United States, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Turkey, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

Achievements

2016

• Contribution to the settlement of 15 investment projects and foreign reinvestments totaling 211.60 million U.S. dollars. They were possible through the creation of 12 new investments and meant the generation of 3,039 jobs.
• The leadership of services in information and communication technologies (ICT) and value-added services as large recipients of foreign investment.
• Realization of six events Why Medellín? in the destinations where opportunities were identified with potential investors. It is worth mention that in 2016 this event was carried out in countries where the agency had not made internationalization management, including Turkey, New Zealand, Australia, and Uruguay.
• These missions generated relationships with around 200 representatives of companies and organizations who see Colombia as a good opportunity to expand their businesses and that, from now on, have Medellín among their investment options.

2017

• The attraction of 371.74 million U.S. dollars in investment and a growth of 76% compared to the previous year. This is the highest amount registered in ACI Medellín’s history.
• 92% of the total investment arriving in the city came from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, El Salvador, the United States, France, Mexico, the Netherlands, Panama, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Uruguay.
• These investment resources benefited the sectors of agribusiness, services, renewable energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, tourism, industries 4.0, which represented the creation of 2,692 jobs.
• Constant demand from investors for local talent in the areas such as engineering, architecture, software development, and bilingual personnel for the tourism sector, services and technology.
• Articulation with countries like Germany, Brazil, Korea, Singapore, and Turkey to share experiences, learn from best practices, attract foreign investment and strengthen new technologies related to the Electric Mobility Ecosystem.
• In 2017, eight events Why Medellín? were carried out in Argentina, Brazil, the United States, Spain, Mexico, and Venezuela.

2018

• Strengthening investor confidence in the city with the attraction of 253.28 million U.S. for the establishment of 34 investment and reinvestment projects.
• 76% of the total investment amount corresponds to new investments of national and foreign companies, and 24% comes from organizations that strengthened their confidence in the city by materializing reinvestments.
• The largest number of investment projects comes from the United States with 18% of total investments received, followed by France, Spain, Japan, Canada, and Argentina. 15% comes from national investment.
• Generation of 3,180 new jobs through direct investment, out of which, 866 are the result of reinvestments.
• The most benefited economic sector was the services sector with more than half of the jobs generated, followed by the infrastructure and real estate sectors.
• Consolidation of the Why Medellín? Strategy through the accomplishment of nine events in Peru, Chile, the United States, Mexico, and Argentina. This strategy allowed us to contact 268 representatives of organizations who see Medellín as a good opportunity for their expansion plan.