Mayor Federico Gutiérrez shares about the importance of citizen participation, the city’s social transformation and hosting the upcoming WCS Mayors Forum 2019 in Medellin.
GLOBAL AGENDA
A legal, equitable and inclusive Medellín
By Federico Gutiérrez Zuluaga
Medellín is a fascinating city. Precisely, what makes our present so valuable is our past. After living through terrible episodes of fear and violence in the 80s and 90s, our society learned how to rebuild itself and is a reference of transformation in the world today.
During this path, we have learned the importance of aligning ourselves with the global agenda and of planning our advances in the mid and long terms. This is why we have thought of ourselves in terms of the challenges all the world’s cities face, en route to what 193 world leaders defined in 2015: the fulfillment of Sustainable Development Goals – SDGs – which aim for the elimination of extreme poverty, of inequality and injustice and answer to a global sustainability agenda.
As part of the strive for a more equitable and inclusive city, in social and territorial terms, from the beginning of our Government, we decided to incorporate 70% of the SDGs to the 2016-2019 Development Plan: Medellín Cuenta con vos. Not all objectives are included, since some are not applicable, as for instance, the protection of oceans.
Medellín met the universal call of the United Nations Program to put an end to poverty, protect the planet and guarantee that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
Our Development Plan makes up the city’s route map and contains a work agenda focussed on persons, prosperity, peace, the planet and its partnerships, the five thematic focuses defined by the UN that answer to the three dimensions which make up sustainability: social, economic and environmental.
70% of the Sustainable Development Goal indicators are incorporated to the 2016-2019 Development Plan.
The focus on people covers five of the SDGs: an end to poverty, zero hunger, health and welfare, quality of education and gender equality. We have made significant advances in this sense. For example, Education is the Development Plan line with the highest allotted budget. This is due to our conviction and need that children achieve their dreams within the framework of legality, that children become “experts” but in the realm of medicine, science and art, that they are educated personally and professionally and contribute to the economic and social development of the city.
Among the main advances are the increase in coverage of the Buen Comienzo (Good Start) Program, which went from 69.2% in 2015 to 78.7% in 2017, and the decrease in illiteracy rates and school desertion. In addition, there is an evident improvement in the quality of education in schools, an increase in scholarships for undergraduate education and 300 scholarships for masters programs for our teachers between 2017 and 2019. Moreover, UNESCO recognized Medellín as a Learning City, integrating it to a group of a mere 14 Latin American cities that stand out for their efforts in achieving quality education along the life of their inhabitants.
The goal is for Medellín to reach, in 2030, the Sustainable Development Goals that were globally defined, for which a city agenda has been made hand-in-hand with the private sector and academia.
In this focus of Prosperity, associated to economic development and to which other SDGs are linked: accessible and non-polluting energy, decent employment and economic growth, industry, innovation and infrastructure, reduction of inequality and sustainable cities and communities, the city has a public policy for economic development that is supported by knowledge as a starting point for productivity, generation of employment and improvement in competitiveness. Proof of this is that the city currently invests 2.14% of its Gross Domestic Product in activities of science, technology and innovation. Our goal was to reach 3% in 2021 but we will surely meet that goal prior to that.
With regards to the focus of Peace, the world is witness to our efforts to overcome the past to building a just society that is inclusive and violence-free. This is why we have begun an ethical fight against illegality and criminal activities, which has been showing results. Notwithstanding, we are convinced that social investment is key and that transformation is achieved from within people and families, which is why we have been giving, hand-in-hand with my wife, Margarita, workshops in positive discipline and rearing in the most vulnerable zones in the city.
This sustainability agenda is an opportunity to articulate efforts among public and private institutions and civil society, thus improving the quality of life of people.
In the Planet thematic focus, sustainable mobility projects are our priority because they will enable us to improve the quality of the air we breath. We have advanced in renovation of vehicles, entry of electric cabs and the first articulated bus working with electric energy. We have increased the number of eco-stations, invested more than COP$76,000 million in the adaptation of bike routes, COP$298,000 million in the Picacho Metrocable and COP$45,000 million in the 30 green corridors in the city.
In the Partnership focus, we are clear in the knowledge that these are key for the development of the city and must be centered on the needs of the most vulnerable population. On 2016 and 2017, Foreign Direct Investment totalled USD 583 million and resources for cooperation amounted to USD 12.8 million. Ten South-South cooperation partnerships have been established and 52 projects have benefitted from the agreements for international cooperation.
We know these achievements are significant but are also aware that this is a long term process which began in previous years and to which we have given continuity. However, there is still much work to do. Notwithstanding, we are satisfied, because each invested resource corresponds to the Development Plan and the route map that was created with responsibility and stemming from the diagnosis of a city which began a transformation process, but that must keep working so that these achievements render the well-being of the population.
Content of the Revista Link 2018
Our Contribution to the Achievement of the 2030 Agenda
Of the 231 indicators within the Sustainable Development Goals – SDGs – and the 200 outcome indicators that are part of the Medellín Cuenta con vos (Medellín Counts on You) 2016-2019” Development Plan, there are two indicators that are fundamental for the Agency for Cooperation and Investment of Medellín and the Metropolitan Area. These two are the contribution from our task, two challenges that significantly affect the economic and social development of the city and impact the achievement of results of the 2030 Agenda: “amount of national and foreign investment reported for development and competitiveness” and “amount of national and international technical and financial cooperation received.”
Although these two indicators are directly associated with SDG 17, “Partnerships for the goals,” their impact is also reflected on five more objectives: 4. Quality education; 8. Decent work and economic growth; 9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure; 10. Reduction of inequalities, and 11. Sustainable cities and communities.
Our goals in nationally and internationally managed cooperation and in attracting foreign investment, as well as the actions we take going forward in the search for the internationalization of the City-Region, reflect our commitment to the contribution toward the improvement of the quality of life of the community, regarding the economic and social development of Medellin and the region. We are achieving this through the articulation of national and international actors with whom cooperation and investment partnerships are consolidated.
Directly, the actions carried out by the Agency in meeting these challenges seek the social development of the territory with equity, inclusion and sustainability.
Our task is putting Medellín on the global scene in a positive way, highlighting its advantages and competencies, generating trust and working together with international organizations, promoting local and global relationships. The Agency also showcases the city in different scenarios to promote and stimulate investment. This initiative leads to materializing of results such as the exchange of experiences and knowledge, capturing technical and financial support, generation of quality employment, qualification of human talent, development and strengthening of physical and technological infrastructures, economic growth and improvement of the quality of life of the inhabitants.
At ACI Medellín, we understand the dimensions of this global commitment and the significant impact we have on achieving this collective goal that erases the borders between countries and shows us how to walk hand in hand. For this reason, we have assumed the challenge with total responsibility, a sense of belonging and, above all, with a deep love and respect for our city, the region and the country.
RoboRAVE International awards students from Medellín
Four students and a teacher from the Santa María Educational Institution were awarded by RoboRAVE in the Line Following category 2018, in Badajoz, Spain
The winners are part of the Complementary Education program for the educational strengthening of the Medellín Mayor’s Office, which only in 2018 has served 57,787 students in 30 projects
The event was attended by 20,000 visitors from 10 countries around the world and 300 people divided in 75 teams. The Colombian delegation participated and won with a robot built by the students. It identifies and follows lines and avoids any kind of obstacle on the ground.
RoboRAVE
It is an international educational program in robotics which seeks the know-how exchange for the creation of knowledge and competitiveness in which children, young people, and adults participate in areas such as Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics.
Medellín has favorable conditions to achieve high-impact ventures in Latin America
In line with Medellín’s goal of joining the top-three most entrepreneurial cities and becoming the capital of innovation in Latin America by 2023, a study about the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the city was carried out by the Medellín Mayor’s Office, the Créame Business Incubator, and the Entrepreneurial Development Program of Argentina – PRODEM.
High impact ventures grow quickly, sustainably, profitably, and can achieve a significant level of sales in a short time. In the last three years, the Medellín Mayor’s Office has accompanied about 119,000 people in their entrepreneurship ideas.
This research analyzed variables such as human capital, entrepreneurial education, culture, business structure, science, technology and information platform; also, the local demand, social capital, funding, local institutional support, local policies, and regulations, among other aspects.
“Medellín has a young entrepreneurship ecosystem which keeps moving on and has opportunities for improvement to take the leap towards a new and more dynamic stage,” said Hugo Kantis, Entrepreneurial Development Program of Argentina.
At the same time, opportunities for improvement arose from this research, such as the strengthening of education for entrepreneurship as a tool for the development of business ideas.
Medellín Works to Boost Orange Economy
Orange Economy refers to all those economic activities related to the cultural industry, art, and creativity. In a stricter definition: “It is the set of activities that, linked, allow ideas to be transformed into cultural goods and services, whose value is determined by their content of intellectual property.”
(“The orange economy. An infinite opportunity,” Felipe Buitrago Restrepo).
Activities that make up the sector:
Music, television, cinema, design, photography, jewelry, theater, radio, plastic arts, content generation, and cultural tourism.
Cultural and Creative Ecosystem in Medellín
Medellín has more than 1,690 companies related to Orange Economy and 99% are micro and small companies.
In 2017, this sector represented 1.5% of Antioquia’s GDP and 3.4% of the Colombian economy. Therefore, it has been prioritized as an area of opportunity by the Public Policy of Economic Development of the city.
Based on this, a great bet has been set in motion in the city to boost the cultural economy, the Perpetuo Socorro Creative District:
A 62 hectares estate located in Medellín’s center which is expected to become a hub for creativity and art and the base of operations of national and foreign companies related to this sector.
In accordance with this initiative, Medellín has designed a series of tax incentives and benefits for companies that develop creative activities within this district:
- Property tax exemption.
- Special rate in the signs & boards and industry & commerce taxes.
National legal framework
There is a legal framework in Colombia that covers and promotes the growth of the sector:
- Law of Cinema (Law 814).
- Law of Public Spectacles (Law 1493).
- Orange Law (Law 1834).
ACI Medellín’s Proactive work
The Agency for Cooperation and Investment of Medellín and the Metropolitan Area – ACI Medellín, joined the initiative to promote and boost Orange Economy in the city and the region. Therefore, it works on two fronts:
- The attraction of anchor companies for the development of a creative ecosystem in Medellín.
- Active search for investors that work in real estate development in 31.92 hectares of the Creative District.
The C40 Network will Provide Technical Support to Medellín’s Climate Action Plan
Federico Gutiérrez Zuluaga, Mayor of Medellín, accompanied by Manuel Olivera, regional director for Latin America of C40 presented the planning framework to develop the Climate Action Plan of Medellín to the members of the Metropolitan Environmental Council – CAM. This plan will guide the adaptation and mitigation actions against climate change in the city – region until 2020.
C40 Cities is an international network which connects 100 cities around the world. They combine efforts to take actions for climate and lead the way for a healthier and more sustainable future.
Medellín was included in a prioritized list of cities to receive technical assistance by C40 for its progress in initiatives related to the protection of the environment such as electric mobility, the air quality pact and green corridors. A Climate Action Plan compatible with the Paris Agreement is expected by the middle of the second semester of 2019.
The capital of Antioquia joined the C40 in 2016. Since then, the Environment Secretariat of the Medellín Mayor’s Office and the Agency for Cooperation and Investment of Medellín and the Metropolitan Area coordinate the city’s participation in the Network.
“I am convinced that taking action against climate change is no longer an option, it is imperative. Therefore, Medellín has made great progress in this purpose. The Pact for Air Quality, our electric mobility strategy, the creation of green spaces, among others, are some of the projects that demonstrate our commitment and that of our citizens to the city’s environment. Let’s continue working together for our cities, proposing great actions aiming to meet the Paris Agreement,” said the Mayor of Medellín, Federico Gutiérrez Zuluaga.
Since May this year, Mayor Federico Gutiérrez represents Medellín and is vice president of this international network. Also, together with the Metropolitan Region of Santiago de Chile, the city represents the Latin America chapter.
ACI Medellín Works in Six Lines of International Cooperation
The Agency for Cooperation and Investment of Medellín and the Metropolitan Area – ACI Medellín- manages and oversees international cooperation opportunities for public initiatives and programs of social impact.
According to the origin of the resources for international cooperation, there are six cooperation modes:
Decentralized cooperation: refers to the set of actions promoted by local and regional governments for the dynamization of cooperation. Usually, these are medium and long-term actions aimed at enhancing the development of the territory and, sometimes, with the direct participation of interested population groups.
Horizontal cooperation (South-South): promotes the generation of positive agendas and exchange of knowledge and experiences among developing countries. This type of cooperation is horizontal and solidary, focused on supporting the priorities of the countries involved.
Vertical cooperation (North-South): it involves a developed country and another one developing or with a lower level. In this mode, technical or financial cooperation provided by official bodies (State, local governments, executing agencies) or private entities that promote economic and social development come into play. These on-reimbursable resources are destined for developing countries and multilateral institutions.
Triangular cooperation: a mixed modality of international cooperation. It combines traditional or vertical cooperation with horizontal cooperation to provide cooperation to a third developing country.
Private cooperation: it refers to the provision of technical or financial resources by the private sector to promote innovation, development, generation of employment, wealth, and to reduce poverty.
The Public Policy for International Cooperation, a roadmap towards development
The Agency for Cooperation and Investment of Medellín and the Metropolitan Area, ACI Medellín carried out the lectures: “Let’s talk about the public policy of international cooperation in Medellín.”
More than 14 civil society organizations attended the conference on “Public Policy for International Cooperation of Medellín” which took place from 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in the Software Incubator.
The meeting addressed issues such as International cooperation, the National Development Plan, the main issues for managing cooperation, recommendations for the mobilization of resources in social organizations, and access and use of the ACI Cooperation Platform.
The organizations had a space to share their needs and experiences in international cooperation to establish alliances and achieve networking among the attendees.
“Beyond the public policy we are talking about how to access international cooperation and some tips for organizations to learn how to approach it. Breaking paradigms is very important because cooperation is not only financial but also technical. Also, it is important to articulate actors so that the organizations understand there is a public policy they can rely on to have an effective and efficient cooperation not only in Medellín but throughout the region,” said Catalina Escobar, co-founder of Makaia and supporter of the event.
Also, there was an opportunity to socialize the International Cooperation Platform operated by ACI Medellín, a useful tool for civil society organizations.
“ACI Medellín carries out strategic activities to develop international cooperation and effectively impact the programs and projects of the Municipal Administration, a very important task to improve the quality of life of citizens. In this sense, our work is complementary to the management carried out by many organizations in the city, and that is why ACI Medellín seeks to strengthen them and guide them towards a good performance,” said Catalina Restrepo Carvajal, Executive Director of ACI Medellín.
Two new direct Air Routes connect Medellín and North America
Starting in November, Orlando (United States) and Cancun (Mexico) join the international air routes that bring Medellín closer to the world and strengthen bilateral tourism.
The city already has 22 national and 12 international air routes.
“Greater air connectivity increases competitiveness, generates trade and tourism, which translates into economic development. Strengthen our air connectivity and making the city increasingly attractive, should be a constant work of both the public and private sectors,” said Maria Fernanda Galeano Rojo, Secretary of Economic Development of Medellín
Spirit and Aero Mexico are the two airlines that rely on Medellín as an attractive destination for travelers.
“Facilitating the operational conditions for the connection between countries is a very important issue reflected in the arrival of new air routes. This has been achieved thanks to the investments of the national government amounting to 425 billion pesos in the transformation, expansion, and modernization of the airport. Thus, generating more spaces for customers and passengers,” highlights Sara Ramírez Restrepo, General Manager of Airplan.
According to the Civil Aeronautics, in the last ten years, the number of international routes has doubled in Colombia with an increase of 168.4% in the number of passengers. The latest report of Sectoral Studies of the entity indicates that between January and September of 2018, air transport mobilized 27 million 600 thousand passengers, 2.7% more compared to the 26 million 915 thousand users transported in 2017.
According to figures from SITUR, between January and September of 2018 compared to 2016, the growth of travelers has been:
Medellín to Mexico: 31.49%
Mexico to Medellín: 20.44%
The United States to Medellín: 20.52%
Thanks to this commitment of the two airlines, the Mexican Caribbean, the center of Florida, and Medellín, will be just a flight away. This translates in decreasing both time and costs in travel and favors people, cultures, and trade.
Information about the new air routes:
Orlando:
Since November 9, Spirit began operations to/from Orlando, Florida to José María Córdova Airport, operated by Airplan SAS. Airbus A-319 aircraft with capacity for 145 passengers, will travel in two weekly frequencies on Mondays and Fridays.
Cancun:
As of November 17 and on board of Aero Mexico’s Embraer 190, with a capacity for 99 passengers, people can travel between Cancun and Medellín with two weekly trips, on Saturdays and Sundays.
José María Córdova Airport, operated by Airplan SAS:
In 2017, 7,450,000 national and international passengers were mobilized at José María Córdova Airport, is the second airport in passenger mobilization after El Dorado Airport.
The international passenger terminal was expanded by 3,900 m2 and has three new positions for aircraft parking in this area. The capacity of the Airport has increased to 17 platform positions, new commercial and handling facilities were enabled for the service of the airlines.
Written by: Medellín Mayor’s Office
Medellín will host the 49th OAS General Assembly
For the second time, Medellín is chosen to host the General Assembly of the Organization of American States – OAS. The decision was made by Resolution of that same entity, after Colombia stated its intention to host the meeting between June 26 and 28, 2019.
The General Assembly is the ultimate meeting of the Organization of American States. It is composed by the delegations of the member states and is held annually in a venue chosen under the principle of rotation.
“It will be a great honor to receive the 35 delegations of the member countries and other special guests in this summit on June of next year. With the warmth of our people, our city infrastructure and the support of the institutions, we will carry out one of the best meetings in the history of the Organization of American States,” said the mayor of Medellín, Federico Gutiérrez Zuluaga.
OAS is the oldest regional entity in the world and one of the most extensive. Today, it constitutes the main political, legal and social governmental forum of the hemisphere.
The celebration of the 49th edition of the OAS Assembly joins other events of great international relevance that will be held in Medellín next year, such as: the World Cities Summit , the Meeting of UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities , the World Avocado Congress , the Concordia Summit , among others that will make: “Medellín the epicenter of major meetings in Latin America and the world in 2019” added the local leader.
Medellín Builds a new Future
Although Medellín has opened other public calls which have earned it worldwide recognition for its social and urban progress, this architectural design contest symbolizes not only transformation but the beginning of a space for memory, reflection, and reconciliation.
On October 23, 2018, the Medellín Mayor’s Office and its Urban Development Company – EDU advised by the Colombian Society of Architects, started the first stage of the architecture competition for the design of the new public space for memory and reflection. It will replace one of the icons associated with drug trafficking and the violence suffered by Medellín in the 80s and 90s: the Monaco building, which will be demolished at the beginning of 2019.
As part of the award, a consultancy contract, and three prizes will be paid for a total of COP $351,480,000. The participation guidelines can be consulted online on SECOP I.
The private secretary of the Mayor of Medellín, Manuel Villa said: “What we want is to overthrow, demolish or dismantle it to build a new symbol which honor the victims. We do not mean to erase the scars. On the contrary, we intend to heal and create other referents of legality and ethics to effectively fight for that transformation of society.”
Among the selection criteria, the participants must consider four components: urban, architectural, environmental and social. In addition, the compilation of 25 categories in which citizens of Medellín expressed their will and wishes -922 proposals in total- about this new scenario of resilience and resignification.
Through this contest, the municipal administration seeks to ensure transparency, a broad participation of architects, and to encourage the contribution of young talents, quality design, and citizen intervention around issues of memory as promoted by the initiative of “Culture of legality.”
Mercados Campesinos, a Strategy to link Economic Development and Food Security
With 30 years of operation, Mercados Campesinos is a government strategy which has managed to benefit more than 500 peasant families in the capital of Antioquia, through 21 selling points around the city.
Mercados Campesinos [Peasant Markets] is a strategy of the Medellín Mayor’s Office which provides a space for small and medium producers from the rural area of the city to sale their products directly to the consumer, thus eliminating the intermediation chains and improving the income of producers and their families.
This strategy, which seeks to promote the entrepreneurship of the rural population of Medellín, not only impacts the rural economy but also provides citizens with access to fresh and organic food with the best quality at a lower cost.
Thus, Mercados Campesinos, together with other programs of the Municipal Administration and the private sector, work together to facilitate access to nutritious food and support the task of Medellín in meeting the UN’s 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals SDG1 No poverty, SDG2 Zero hunger, and SDG12 Responsible production and consumption.
In line with this task, Medellín has made alliances with renowned international actors, which have allowed it not only to strengthen these programs but also their international positioning, such as:
- The Milan Urban Food Policy Pact, Medellín joined in 2014 to generate a tool that harmonizes all the rules and best practices connected with food production, distribution, and consumption at the urban level. To define new objectives and monitor indicators, provide constant support to all mayors in their daily work and to make cities more resilient to both the famine and Co2 emissions.
- The Food and Agriculture Organization – FAO carried out the Food for Cities initiative between 2015 and 2017 to guarantee the food security of the urban sectors.
Medellín Reaffirms its Position as a Learning City
Medellín becomes a worldwide example of best practices on education issues with the lowest dropout rate in its history reaching 2.9%. This is a result of policies and programs which seek to train citizens throughout their life cycle.
This is the lowest dropout rate in Medellín’s history. Medellín, the first Colombian city to join the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, will host the Network’s world meeting in 2019.
14 years ago, the capital of Antioquia started a transformation process in which education has been fundamental to achieve social changes. The work and the combination of efforts have reduced the school desertion, one of the biggest problems of the educative system, in 29% during this period. The greatest results were reached during the last two years through programs like: En el colegio contamos con vos, ¡y con tu voz! [We count on you and your voice at school!] which has brought back 5,165 children and young people to the classrooms.
These programs join other best practices such as Buen Comienzo, Sapiencia, the Software Nursery, and the recently inaugurated Teacher Innovation Center – MOVA -, among others. All of them have made Medellín a world leader in educational issues, thus guaranteeing its entry to the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, and to be chosen to host the Network’s global meeting for the first time in South America in 2019.
Medellín Explores Investment and Cooperation Opportunities in London
ACI Medellín carried out a work agenda in the capital of the United Kingdom after the announcement of their interest in investing in Colombia. The United States and Spain have also demonstrated their interest in this issue. The agenda included visits to the Peckham Levels creative district, one-on-one meetings with investment funds and companies interested in venturing into Medellín.
The Colombian Embassy to the United Kingdom, Procolombia, and the Consulate of Colombia in London supported the agenda providing relationship, arranging appointments and opening calls to the public of interest.
In line with the international cooperation work line of ACI Medellín, a meeting was also held with the British Council to discuss issues of cooperation in terms of security, peace and coexistence, and bilingualism. In addition, this trip to London was the perfect opportunity to have a meeting with the Paisas living in this city.
“London has always been present on our radar in terms of investment. We believe that we can have good alliances to strengthen Medellín in terms of economic development and creativity. Colombia is an important market for the United Kingdom, and Medellín has competitive advantages that make it very attractive for investors and supporting agencies in terms of cooperation. Colombia is a country of regions, and each one has its benefits. Medellín stands out for its ability to make things happen, its people, its continuity, among others,” said Catalina Restrepo Carvajal, Executive Director of ACI Medellín.
Summit Opens its Second Indoor Trampoline Park in Colombia
In November, Medellín will have a new space for healthy indoor entertainment with 100 trampolines and a wide range of activities for children, young people, and adults. In a 2,900 mt2 area, the park has a capacity for more than 400 people per hour and will generate 35 direct jobs.
Under the concept of healthy entertainment for all ages, the first indoor trampoline park arrives in Medellín with an innovative and fun model seeking to differentiate itself from the available offer in the city.
This is the second opening in Colombia within the framework of a Regional expansion plan of the U.S. based company which includes cities such as Panama, Dominican Republic, Chile, and Uruguay. Their investment totaled 2 million dollars and will generate 35 direct jobs.
“This park fits the strategic proposal of INDER which aims at promoting sports, recreation, and physical activities in different spaces. The Olympic trampolines will help future young promises of the Team Medellín to practice gymnastics” affirmed Andrés Felipe López Vergara, INDER’s chief city-events officer.
Thus far, the city has received a total amount of USD 249.9 million between new investments and reinvestments. 22 new companies have settled in Medellín and eight more have reinvested. Therefore, 2,945 jobs in the infrastructure, real estate, food and industry 4.0 sectors are estimated. ACI Medellín supported the opening and settling process of the Summit Trampoline Park in the city.
The Child Workshops for Citizen Participation Program was Awarded in Portugal
The XV Congress of Educating Cities: “The city belongs to the people,” was held in Portugal, from November 13 to 16. Medellín participated with the project Child Workshops for Citizen Participation of the Medellín Mayor’s Office and managed by the Secretariat of Citizen Participation.
It is the Educating Cities Award of the International Association of Educating Cities (IAEC).
- The project Child Workshops for Citizen Participation is executed by the Secretariat of Citizen Participation of the Medellín Mayor’s Office.
- The project received the award in the XV Congress of Educating Cities, Cascais 2018.
- ACI Medellín managed and supported the application of this initiative.
Child Workshops for Citizen Participation is a proposal born in 2013. It aims to increase the participation levels among children and young people of Medellín through a training process in citizen and democratic capacities.
The Secretariats of Citizen Participation, Education, Youth, Inclusion and Environment and the Inclusion Unit of the LGBTI Population work together in this project.
The Agency for Cooperation and Investment of Medellín and the Metropolitan Area – ACI Medellín – led and supported the award application process in which 49 cities from 12 countries nominated.
Learnings from the Medellín Lab 2018
There is no doubt that the reflections, analyses and learnings left by the Medellín Lab 2018 will be of great use for the growth of the participating cities in this second edition of the laboratory of living experiences of Medellín. This second edition of the Medellín Lab included tours around the city projects, joint creation workshops and presentations of positive city proposals.
29 participants from Chongqing (China), Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Dakar (Senegal), Ho Chi Min (Vietnam), Nairobi (Kenya), Johannesburg (South Africa), Cape Town (South Africa) and Jakarta (Indonesia) visited important urban interventions in the social and cultural transformation of Medellín.
The attendees from the government sector of Asia and Africa, accompanied by ACI Medellín and the World Bank, had the opportunity to visit projects and programs such as: the green corridors of El Poblado Avenue and the Oriental avenue, the EnCicla project, the Ciudad del Río sector, the Metro, the tram, the Metrocable (cable cars), the renovation proposal of the Medellín Center, the Comprehensive Urban Projects (PUI), the Commune 13, among others.
They also learned about Medellín’s mobility, transport, infrastructure, urban planning and risk management models.
During the Medellín Lab 2018, Mayor Federico Gutiérrez talked to the visitors and highlighted the achievements of the transformation of the city as a scenario for the exchange of knowledge.
“When people talk about Medellín today, the present acquires value due to the difficulties we had experienced in the past. That is one of the greatest characteristics of Medellín: How did one of the most violent cities in the world, which in 1991 had a homicide rate of 381 murders per 100,000 inhabitants, to get be considered one of the most innovative cities in the world in just 27 years?” said the mayor.
According to the participants of the event, some of the most valuable learning is related to the sense of the articulated work between the business sector, the universities, the community and State for the construction of long-term public policies. Also, the evident work in social inclusion with one integrated ticket for transport and mobility systems and the accountability and efficiency of resources to increase the citizen trust.
The Metro Culture, the Public-Private Articulation, the sense of belonging and the continuity among policies were the learnings highlighted by the attendees of the Medellín Lab 2018.
The attendees were surprised with the importance of promoting a sense of belonging for the care of the public infrastructure like the Metro Culture does. At the same time, they highlighted the continuity in the public agenda, despite the changes of government, for the development of the territory.
The participating cities are expected to replicate some initiatives and best practices of Medellín in the short, medium and long term. Besides, the organization of the event will apply the recommendations offered by the attendees to improve future versions.
“The Medellín Lab was a very enriching experience with other cities of the world on learning and exploring what can be done in our territories to achieve progress. It is not just what the city shows, but also what it can learn and exchange in that process of achieving better living conditions for the citizens of the world. That is the purpose of this City Laboratory” said Catalina Restrepo Carvajal, Executive Director ACI Medellín
With this second edition, the Medellín Lab becomes one of the most important laboratories of living experiences in the country and ratifies its valuable contribution to the construction of the territory based on an innovative dynamic through the knowledge and experiences of all cities of the world.
The National Government, Medellín and the World Economic Forum work in the creation of a Regional Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution
Medellín continues to demonstrate its progress in terms of innovation and leadership in new technologies for Colombia and the region. A priority also being driven by the National Government.
The Center will support the development of policy frameworks for the technological transformation of the country and Latin America under broad schemes of collaboration between the public, private, social and academic sectors. The vision of the Center and its articulation with the global networks of the World Economic Forum will aim towards the maximization of the social and economic benefits of the new technologies.
In technical meetings with José Manuel Restrepo, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism of Colombia; Federico Gutierrez Zuluaga, Mayor of Medellín; Flavia Santoro, President of Procolombia; Marisol Argueta, Head of Latin America and Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum; Diego Bustamante and Nima Elmi, from the same organization, the capital of Antioquia was chosen as the headquarters for this important initiative.
A joint work plan has been established and it is expected that President Iván Duque and Mayor Federico Gutiérrez formalize it in the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to be held in January of next year. This is one of the meetings most important of the global agenda.
Working groups were defined to structure official agreements and get them ready to be signed in Davos, Switzerland, in January next year during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum. The office will be located in Ruta N and will provide service for Colombia and Latin America.
Context:
The concept of the Fourth Industrial Revolution is one of the topics widely developed by the World Economic Forum, its founder Klaus Schwab and other recognized academics, global leaders and organizations. It states that if the third industrial revolution is the digital revolution which has been in force since the mid-twentieth century, this new stage is characterized by a fusion of technologies blurring the lines between the physical, digital and biological spheres, and is marked by technological advances emerging in fields which include robotics, artificial intelligence, blockchain, nanotechnology, quantum computing, biotechnology, the internet of things, 3D printing, among others. This new revolution is irreversibly impacting society, the economy, the government and individuals.
The Music Schools Network of Medellín will tour in the United States
A delegation of 80 students from Medellín will travel to the United States on the tour called Medellín Canción Viva to interpret the repertoire with the same name. They will visit Boston, Baltimore, New York and Washington and, in the latter, they will be part of the commemoration of the Veterans Day at the Crossing Historic Park.
Between November 6 to 16, the Music Schools Network of Medellín will visit several cities in the United States playing its repertoire: Medellín Canción Viva.”
These young people who make up the orchestra, belong to the Medellín Music Schools Network. They went through several auditions organized by public call, so they could join the select group. They will perform compositions wrote by them and their teachers in the Laboratory of Musical Creation with cross-cultural aim and in the Laboratory of Musical Creation with Alternative Media for Sound Production.
The musical repertoire is the city itself, told through the sensitivity, talent and creativity of children and young people inspired by tango, salsa, rock, Colombian music and symphonic music with some touches of urban and modern rhythms.
They will also have an exchange with Berklee College of Music, considered one of the best and most important schools in the world.
For Lina Botero Secretary of Citizen Culture, the tour means “to transcend the concerts and generate scenarios for knowledge exchange, strengthening the experience of the Network so that students become multipliers within the program and in their family and community environments.”
For most of the young people of the Music School, it is the first time they will perform outside the country. It will be an encounter with another culture and sounds, an opportunity to explore, fulfill dreams and strengthen their careers.
The Music Schools Network of Medellín,
The Network was created in 1996, with the aim of reaching vulnerable children and young people in the city and offer them a life project which help them to get away from violence. Nowadays, the network has 27 schools located in 14 Communes and 3 Townships of Medellín; 11 Integrated Groups, with a coverage of 4,600 students aged between 7 and 24 years. The Program has been strengthened by developing skills around musical performance, generating pedagogical strategies to complement the interpretative exercise with reflection and creation.
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Medellín Prepares for the Second Edition of the Medellín Lab
Between October 28 and November 2, Medellín will be the stage for the largest city laboratory of living experiences, Medellín Lab 2018. It seeks to generate a dynamic exchange of experiences and learnings on successful solutions to problems shared among cities around the world through an innovative and participative methodology based on academic sessions, workshops, and field visits.
Medellín Lab 2018: a great laboratory of living city experiences
What is the Medellín Lab?
It is an event organized by ACI Medellín and supported by the World Bank which brings together representatives of the government sector from various cities of the world (Asia, Africa, and Latin America) to exchange knowledge and learning initiatives and successful solutions to city problems.
The meeting is based on an innovative methodology which displays the city as a “living laboratory of experiences” that make up an innovative model of public management and governance. The methodology includes academic sessions, co-creation exercises and visits to city spaces that provide it with value and learnings.
The Medellín Lab will facilitate other cities to meet and understand the solutions that Medellín has found to its problems; identify meeting points for their replicability, and transfer experiences to find common answers to the challenges they face as cities through multi-actor and multi-level cooperation actions.
This Year’s Main Subject
Its main objective will be to help the participating cities to develop or adapt the following to their development plans:
- Integrated planning measures for the re-development of neighborhoods at risk.
- Transportation systems to support socio-economic inclusion and the prevention of violence.
- Business models and associated institutional structures that allow sustainable funding of the urban infrastructure improvement.
Participating Cities
The second edition of the Medellín Lab will be attended by representatives of the government sector of cities which are undergoing an accelerated urban and demographic explosion. This makes them face challenges like those experienced by Medellín in relation to urban, economic, social and economic development. of coexistence.
- Chongqing, China
- Kigali, Rwanda
- Kinshasa, Congo
- Dakar, Senegal
- Nairobi, Kenya
- Johannesburg, South Africa
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Ho Chi Minh – Vietnam
- Jakarta – Indonesia
Decathlon opens the largest store in the country
Decathlon, the French chain dedicated to sale and distribute sports accessories and equipment, will provide Medellín and the metropolitan area with the most complete inventory and innovative spaces for testing products also referred to as “testing areas.”
In this store, which generated 65 new jobs, visitors will have access to 4,000 m2 of clothing and items for 70 sports and 100 different sports practices.
The store will have a specialized technology to automatically record every purchase and update inventory in real time. As part of its commitment to the environment, Decathlon will not offer plastic bags to customers.
The company has as the corporate principle of make all its workers know the different positions through job rotation, so there’s no rank distinction in each activity. Therefore, the worker generates a transversal knowledge to understand the business in a comprehensive way.
“To democratize the sport” is one of the main goals of the company.
Decathlon has two stores in Colombia: one in Bogotá and the other in Barranquilla and has plans to open three more stores in the metropolitan area depending on the results in Viva Envigado.
During its installation process, ACI Medellín actively supported Decathlon managers with two city agendas for the recognition of spaces in shopping centers; the relationship with companies in the real estate sector and contacting them with key entities such as INDER, the Secretariat of Economic Development, the Urban Development Company and Inexmoda.
“We have permanently supported the installation of Decathlon. This allowed them to actively explore the local market and access strategic information about the capabilities of the city. We are very happy to achieve the installation of this company which, in addition to generating employment, will promote healthy lifestyles,” said Catalina Restrepo Carvajal, Executive Director of the ACI Medellín.
New Zealand’s Economic Capital and Medellín will Exchange Planning Experiences
Mr. Ludo Campbell-Reid, general manager of the Design Office of Auckland -economic capital of New Zealand- will visit Medellín. In 2016, Auckland, Vienna, Sidney, Medellin and Toronto were the nominees to receive the Lee Kuan Yew Award, which was awarded to the capital of Antioquia.
The Lee Kuan Yew is awarded every two years by the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore and it highlights sustainable initiatives associated to urban planning and management with concrete environmental, social or economic results. In 2014, it was Suzhou (China) the awarded city and in March 2018, the winner was Seoul (South Korea) and it will be granted next year in Medellín during the World Cities Summit.
The Mayor Federico Gutiérrez Zuluaga, invited Campbell-Reid to exchange knowledge and recognize the best practices in planning both cities have. He is a specialist in urban design and sustainable mobility; and will expose his concepts on alternative means of transport such as bicycles and electric vehicles.
The delegate from New Zealand is a keynote speaker in WALK21 BOGOTA WALKABLE CITY, which takes place this week in the capital of Colombia and seeks to analyze progress and global alternatives in mobility issues associated with tactical urbanism, accessibility, intermodality and public transport.
In July 2019, Medellín will host the World Cities Summit -the first time it is held in Latin America- as part of the commitments acquired after winning the 2016 Lee Kuan Yew Award.
Medellín will host the IV UNESCO International Conference on Learning Cities in 2019
Medellín was selected by UNESCO to host the International Conference on Learning Cities in 2019. In addition to this recognition, the World Cities Summit 2019 will be held in the city as a result of the Lee Kuan Yew Award received in 2016 for the efforts of Medellín in addressing urban challenges.
The capital of Antioquia was the first city in Colombia to be a member of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities.
Education has become a milestone of transformation in Medellín. This has led the city to generate a model of social integration through the development of lifelong-learning programs. Articulating them, not only strengthen and create knowledge, but allow to consolidate a global and sustainable community. These programs are: Buen Comienzo, Protective Environment School, Territory STEM + H, Sapiencia, the Center of Innovation for Teachers- MOVA, the Quality Schools and the future construction of the Western University Citadel.A process that the capital of Antioquia continues to build as one of the learning cities in the world.
This International Biennial Conference to be held in 2019 will allow Medellín to meet with government delegates and education experts from all continents and socialize the city’s best educational practices. Those which have allowed it to promote local development to build more inclusive and sustainable societies in the pursuit of compliance of SDG’s objective 4 ” Quality Education”
Thus, Medellín continues to project itself as a laboratory of best practices for the establishment of networks and alliances which generate the development of public policies to strengthen education throughout the life of citizens.
Las anteriores ediciones de la Conferencia Internacional se llevaron a cabo en Beijing, China; Ciudad de México y Cork, Irlanda.
ACI Medellín is a Model for La Guajira
A delegation from the department of La Guajira, located in northern Colombia, visited the facilities of the Agency for Cooperation and Investment of Medellín and the Metropolitan Area – ACI Medellín. Their purpose was to approach ACI Medellín’s work methodology, exchanging knowledge, experiences and best practices, as well as analyzing the possibility of replicating the ACI Medellín’s model in the newly created Agency in La Guajira.
The formulation, design and start-up of this entity were an initiative of the government of La Guajira which started since 2018. It started operating nearly two months ago and will focus on the attraction of cooperation and national and foreign investment.
“We are currently in a training process to learn about what we should and should not do in terms of best practices. La Guajira has several challenges and many objectives to be met. Which is why we want to learn from those who have more experience,” said Iván José Riveira, responsible for the execution of investment proposals in the Cooperation and Investment Agency of La Guajira.
On the other hand, the representative of the Departmental Administration of La Guajira, Eliécer Barros, said that cooperation contributors have been disjointedly working and separated from the Administration. “This is an initiative which seeks to regulate the actions of cooperation contributors to make them much more efficient. The department action is very limited due to its resources, for that reason, the idea is to learn how to do more with less.”
The visit of the delegation to Medellín is part of a round of meetings they will have with other investment promotion agencies around the country to learn the best lessons from each.
“After seeing the actions of ACI Medellín, I began to seize the tasks we have to do. We know it is a long way we are beginning, and we want to start with the best guide. In that sense, you are a national reference; In fact, the change of the image of Medellín has been the model to be followed by the country. Although, as a coastal region we have different dynamics, we want to learn to communicate and change a bit the image of the Colombian Caribbean region,” Barros said.
The Ambassador of the European Union strengthens relations with Medellín and Antioquia
Between October 4 to 5, the Ambassador of the European Union in Colombia, Patricia Llombart, visits Medellín for the first time to deepening relations with the city and the department of Antioquia. They will focus on analyzing business opportunities and investment in the framework of the EU-Colombia Trade Agreement after five years of implementation.
The mission will also address cooperation issues such as education, tourism, environment and press freedom within the framework of the Gabriel García Márquez Award and Festival of journalism.
ACI Medellín and the Embassy coordinated a work agenda which included meetings with: representatives of the binational chambers of commerce of the European, organizations such as Procolombia, Proantioquia, Metropolitan Area of the Aburra Valley, Analdex and Agrofuturo, among other. Likewise, the Ambassador had the opportunity to talk with the Mayor of Medellín, Federico Gutiérrez Zuluaga about the cooperation and investment possibilities in the city.
“We want to promote business contacts and find ways to advance an agenda between the E.U. and Antioquia. These new opportunities are accompanied by a European commitment to sustainable rural development in Colombia; a strong support for the peace process; the generation of employment; the protection of human rights and support for the competitiveness and development of small and medium company,” explained Ambassador Llombart.
About Ambassador Patricia Llombart
“Jurist and Euro-enthusiast by conviction. She was born in Valencia, Spain and did her master’s degrees in international trade and European studies. Llombart has more than 20 years of experience in the areas of international relations and foreign policy in the European Union. She has worked in the directorates for Latin America and the Middle East and oversaw Mercosur countries, Iran and Iraq; Gulf and Yemen Cooperation. The Ambassador was also part of the Cabinet of the Vice-President of the Commission and of the European Commissioner in charge of external relations. In her most recent position, before being appointed Ambassador in Colombia, she was Director of Infrastructure, Budget and Security at the headquarters of the European External Action Service (EEAS). Source: Embassy of the European Union in Colombia.
Medellín shares Lessons Learned in Urban Planning with Asian and African cities
Medellín – ACI Medellín and the World Bank will develop the second version of the Medellín Lab, a two-way knowledge exchange methodology.
Between October 27 and November 2, 10 cities from Africa and Asia will visit Medellín to participate in the Medellín Lab. They will address issues such as urban regeneration, municipal funding mechanisms and sustainable mobility.
Experiences such as Integrated Urban Projects and Comprehensive Improvement of Neighborhoods, the Metro’s comprehensive actions and the funding mechanisms of the municipality of Medellín will be some of the successful experiences to be presented at the event. These experiences will be addressed from Medellín’s DNA, which was conceived by the base work group as the sum of: resilience, articulation, continuity, sense of belonging, working with the community, tradition of planning, public management, dignity and aesthetics.
By the end of the event, the organization expects Medellín to become a reference for concrete knowledge exchanges between cities and to share experiences that improve their contexts.
The World Bank and ACI Medellín have worked together in the event, guaranteeing a comprehensive vision of the public, private and academic aspects as key elements for the success and materialization of many realities in Medellín.
“There are many cities in the world that would like to learn from Medellín’s experience. This year we are working together with ACI Medellín in the second Medellín Lab. This time, Asian and African cities will participate on the event. It will be an excellent opportunity for the city to present these international delegations with its experiences in urban planning, mobility and funding instruments.” said Philip Karp, Lead Knowledge Management Officer in the World Bank.
“The Medellín Lab is one of the most notable events for ACI Medellín and thus for the city. It is a unique experience in Colombia, in which Medellín becomes a living laboratory for the knowledge and learnings exchange. This time, the presence of representatives from Africa and Asia will greatly enrich this experience. It undoubtedly consolidates the city as a benchmark for urban planning and transformation,” said Catalina Restrepo Carvajal, Executive Director of ACI Medellín.
Context
Medellín Lab is a knowledge and learning exchange methodology aimed to cooperation towards development designed by Medellín through its Agency for Cooperation and Investment – ACI Medellín.
Under this methodology, the city is understood as a “living laboratory of experiences” which make up an innovative model of public management and governance. Also, multi-actor and multi-level cooperation actions are carried out through visits, academic sessions and co-creation exercises, allowing other cities to study the solutions Medellín has found to its problems, identify meeting points for its replicability and find common answers to the challenges we face as cities.
Chongqing (China), Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo), Mumbai (India), Jakarta (Indonesia), Nairobi (Kenya), Kigali (Rwanda), Johannesburg, Cape Town and Johannesburg (South Africa), Dar es-Salaam, (Tanzania), Dakar (Senegal), Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam); will be the cities participating in the second version of the event from October 27 to November 2, 2018.
Medellín succeeded in San Francisco
After participating in the Global Climate Action Summit – C40 in San Francisco, mayor Federico Gutiérrez spoke in the event Why Medellín? and in a meeting of the Sos Paisa Network to strengthen relations of investment and cooperation.
More than 30 representatives of companies in San Francisco attended the event Why Medellín? last September 12, 2018 held at the Chamber of Commerce of the city and organized in partnership with Latin San Francisco and Procolombia’s office on the West Coast of the United States. Important companies such as Accel-KKR, Admios, Consejo Balero, Dissigno, Electronic Arts, Fist Republic Bank, Maker City Project, Tech Bay Area Advocates, Terra Incognita Capital and TIBCO Loyalty Lab, among others, listened to the reasons why in our city “we make good things happen” in terms of investment.
ACI Medellín organized both meetings with institutions in the territory, achieving a satisfactory participation of potential investors and people from Antioquia living in this city.
Presentation by the mayor of Medellín, Federico Gutiérrez Zuluaga, to representatives of companies interested in knowing the attributes of Medellín in terms of investment.
Likewise, the entrepreneur and founding CEO of Kiwi Campus , Felipe Chávez, exposed his experience settling his company in Ruta N’s innovation district: “Medellín is an incredible city, we are very happy to be in the innovation district and having the human talent suitable for the development of our activities.”
Also, during the Mayor’s stay in San Francisco, a meeting of the Network of Paisas living abroad Sos Paisa was held at the Consulate of Colombia, and about 60 Paisas and Colombians attended the meeting. They learned first-hand about the progress made by Medellín, the work of the Network and how they can participate in the development of the city.
Attendees at the Sos Paisa meeting in San Francisco with Mayor Federico Gutiérrez.
“The Mayor’s Office and ACI Medellín consider these spaces a powerful scenario for the relationship and promotion of the city in terms of cooperation and investment. We look forward to working hard in consolidating development opportunities for Medellín. I am sure our work will bear fruit and will help our city to continue to be an attractive destination for cooperation and foreign investment,” said Catalina Restrepo Carvajal, ACI Medellín Executive Director.
Mayor of Medellín talked about the progress made by the city towards the Climate Action Goals
The mayor, Federico Gutiérrez Zuluaga, presented the initiatives of Medellín related to the protection of the environment at the Global Summit on Climate Action (GCAS) and the C40 Steering Committee. Among these initiatives, the Mayor highlighted the Pact for Air Quality, which brings together 83 public and private stakeholders, including the C40 Network, around 446 commitments with goals set to 2030.
The local leader explained that the project is currently working on a pilot with 1,500 electric taxis which, in addition to contributing to improve air quality, are paid through a concerted plan with the taxi drivers, so it is also a social project.
Today Medellin has 20 eco stations and the Metro of Medellín continues its expansion plan with electric mobility projects such as Metrocable Picacho. The actions aim to mitigate and adapt to climate change, in the search to reduce or avoid Greenhouse Gases emissions.
The Pact for Air Quality was signed in Medellín in February this year, which links 83 public and private actors, including the C40 Network. In addition, the Mayor talked about the 20 eco stations located around the city and the expansion plan of the Metro with electric mobility projects such as the Metrocable Picacho.
There is an air decontamination plan for the city and its metropolitan area with goals set by 2030 – PIGECA. It seeks to reduce PM2.5 up to 23 in the year 2030 (it is currently at 33). Medellín went from 8 to 21 air quality monitoring devices in the metropolitan area that correspond to 50% of the stations in the country.
“Taking action against climate change is no longer an option. there might be political and cultural differences – but I know we share the love for our cities and for our people. I also know that we are committed to give our children a friendlier world in every way,” said the Mayor.
Federico Gutiérrez Zuluaga thanked the recognition given to Medellín by appointing him as Vice President of the C40 Steering Committee and one of the representatives for Latin America, along with the Mayor of the Metropolitan Region of Santiago de Chile, Karla Rubilar. He also thanked Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris and President of the Steering Committee of C40 and Michael Bloomberg, founder of C40, for his determined and constant work for the development of cities facing climate change and the creation of sustainable and innovative spaces.
Medellín also accepted and joined the Letter of Commitment to ‘Deadline 2020,’ in November 2017. This project aims to support the implementation of the Paris Agreement. “As a member of this committee, and in the framework of the Paris Agreement, we committed ourselves to become a neutral city in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and resilient to the climate by 2050,” said Gutierrez.
Regarding the adaptation to climate change, the Municipal Administration has projects such as the 30 green corridors, the green walls and the Payment for Environmental Services.
More than 50 mayors from 17 countries met in Medellín to discuss social inclusion
Medellin, Colombia. More than 50 mayors from 17 different countries from Latin America, the Caribbean and Spain met in Medellin, Colombia to exchange experiences and knowledge around social inclusion. This annual meeting is part of the Network of Cities promoted by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to enhance the work of subnational governments in the region.
At the opening event of the Annual Meeting and Seminar “Inclusive Cities: Learning from Medellín” Luis Alberto Moreno, President of the IDB; Federico Gutiérrez, mayor of Medellín and Juan Luis Mejía Arango, president of EAFIT University, had a space to talk about the context and the expected results of the meeting. After the opening, the Mayor of Medellin made his presentation “Transformation of Medellin: progress and challenges of the city towards inclusion”, followed by a conversation with representatives of the University-Private Sector- State Committee (CUEE in Spanish) of Medellín.
“The Mayors’ Forum in Medellín is the ideal scenario to exchange experiences and knowledge among cities and discuss topics which are relevant to all mayors and the IDB. As Mayor of Medellín, I would like to express our interest and enthusiasm in participating in this important decision-making space which allows us to advance towards the objectives we share with other territories. We believe that we are able to connect with cities that face challenges similar to ours, in order to create sustainable changes in local environments,” Gutierrez said.
On the other hand, EAFIT’s President said: “EAFIT University is honored to be the center of such important meeting on inclusive cities as well as IDB’s Annual Meeting of Mayors. We consider it to be an opportunity, not just to offer our customary hospitality, but to show how this city has evolved and how EAFIT has contributed to its transformation and change. The creation of our Center for Urban and Environmental Studies and the generation of studies which positively impact and generate well-being in society confirms this effort. It is a way to highlight how a university can be linked to the transformation of a city. So, we are very happy to host this event. We hope the meeting will be a success and that attendees will keep an indelible memory of Medellín and EAFIT. ”
From September 17 to 19, the event will feature presentations and discussions of mayors, technical officers, experts and directors of the IDB on urban security, social inclusion in neighborhoods, sustainable mobility, and effective and efficient fiscal management. The seminars were organized in collaboration with the Santander City Council, the University of Cantabria and the Menéndez Pelayo International University, both universities are Spanish.
“The Mayors’ meeting is one of IDB’s initiatives which represents our commitment to advancing towards a sustainable development agenda for the region. This is a way to support our countries and their local governments in the efforts to improve the quality of life of its citizens through the acceleration of economic growth and the reduction of poverty and inequality, ” said Juan Pablo Bonilla, Manager of the Climate Change and Sustainable Development Sector of IDB.
The issues to be addressed in the Meeting were identified in line with the main demands that mayors face in their cities. For instance, from 2005 to 2015, the region doubled its total vehicle fleet, adding 100 million vehicles to its roads, increasing the demand for transportation services and the problems of pollution and traffic congestion.
One out every five people living in urban areas live in informal settlements, without property title and minimal access to basic services, exacerbating inequality. On the other hand, insecurity is one of the main concerns of the citizens of the region and one of the greatest challenges for the competitiveness of companies. According to an IDB study, crime costs 3.5% of the region’s GDP. The levels of violence are higher in poor urban neighborhoods and in peripheral areas of the city.
Despite the above, there are many positive and innovative experiences on how local governments are overcoming these challenges. This is why, IDB promotes the Network of Cities – in which 150 cities participate – as a mean to facilitate exchange spaces between cities and to have a platform to share knowledge and best practices on issues related to improving the quality of life, always focused in achieving sustainable and more inclusive cities.
About IDB
The mission of the Inter-American Development Bank is to improve lives. Founded in 1959, IDB is one of the main sources of long-term financing for economic, social and institutional development in Latin America and the Caribbean. It also conducts cutting-edge research projects and offers policy advice, technical assistance and training to public and private clients throughout the region.