The mayor of Medellín, Federico Gutiérrez, received the French ambassador to Colombia, Sylvain Itté, who took office in August 2024 as representative of the French diplomatic corps in the country. During the meeting, the importance of strengthening the bilateral relationship between Medellín and France was highlighted, consolidating cooperation ties and advancing strategic projects in economic, cultural and social areas.
In the economic sphere, the role of French companies was highlighted, especially in the automotive sector, and their positive impact on projects such as Puerto Antioquia. The ambassador also expressed France’s interest in the “Medellín Te Quiere” Development Plan, identifying opportunities in infrastructure, with projects such as the River Train and airport developments; waste management; and sustainable transportation, including metrocable systems with a focus on tourism. The French Development Agency (AFD) also reiterated its commitment to the region, highlighting current and future financing, such as the loan granted to the Universidad de Antioquia.
In the area of culture and cooperation, the situation of the Alliance Française in Medellín, a key institution in the promotion of intercultural dialogue and the teaching of French, was discussed. In addition, opportunities were explored to strengthen university cooperation, student mobility and the implementation of co-financed scholarships. The ambassador also presented cultural initiatives, such as the CREA Colombia project, the International Biennial of Antioquia and a conference on tourism scheduled for 2025 in collaboration with Compás Urbano.
The French Ambassador to Colombia, Sylvain Itté, emphasized that “The relationship between France and Antioquia is solid and dynamic and we want to strengthen these ties of cooperation that unite us in various sectors such as: higher education, research, innovation, culture, economic development, mobility, sustainability and Francophonie. Medellin is for us a key partner and we are convinced that together we can build new alliances that will generate great opportunities for the region.”
The ambassador also highlighted Medellín as one of the first cities on his official agenda, underlining France’s interest in continuing the commitments established during the administration of his predecessor, Frédéric Doré. Since 2008, non-reimbursable cooperation from France to Medellín has reached USD 2.62 million, focusing mainly on sustainability and economic development, while foreign direct investment from France has exceeded USD 496 million, consolidating in sectors such as manufacturing, trade and technology.
This meeting reaffirms the strong relationship between Medellín and France, projecting new opportunities for joint development in sustainability, culture and innovation.