The Mayor of Medellín, Federico Gutiérrez Zuluaga, met this Friday with the United States Ambassador to Colombia, John McNamara, who ratified their willingness to strengthen relations between the North American country and the capital of Antioquia. During the meeting, the main interest was focused on the progress made in the fight against sexual and commercial exploitation of children and adolescents in the city.
“We received in Medellín our friend John McNamara, ambassador of the United States, to continue working together against the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents, and to open more doors for investment and development between Colombia and that country. We have made great progress and the best is definitely yet to come,” said Mayor Gutiérrez Zuluaga.
The conversation highlighted the investigations and actions that have led to significant arrests against this crime, in conjunction with the National Police, the Prosecutor’s Office and the District Administration, through the Secretariat of Security and Coexistence, thanks to the support of the U.S. agency HSI (Homeland Security Investigations).
In this sense, it was highlighted that in 2024, a total of 12 foreigners were captured for sexual exploitation of minors, that is 1,100 % more than in 2023, when there was only one case; and that 23 additional captures of foreigners for sexual crimes have been registered, which is equivalent to 283 % more than in 2023.
Additionally, the Mayor of Medellín and the U.S. Ambassador highlighted, in terms of immigration controls at José María Córdova Airport, five inadmissions of U.S. citizens in February of this year thanks to the Angel Watch System and Migración Colombia.
With the United States, through the Guardians-Me Protejo strategy, a campaign will be carried out in three priority educational institutions against child sexual exploitation, scheduled for March 26 and 27, with the support of HSI.
Currently, investigations are progressing on the aforementioned problem with the HSI special agent in Medellín, in coordination with the Security Secretariat; the Amber Alert is being implemented, with the support of the FBI, to search for missing minors; and “High Level Meetings” were held with U.S. investigative agencies, held in Medellín and the U.S. Embassy in 2024.
In the area of international cooperation, both parties noted their interest in the Parceros and Parceras programs; the protection of human rights; and the prevention of crime and the consumption of psychoactive substances.
In addition to joint advances in security, the local president and the U.S. ambassador discussed economic opportunities for U.S. businessmen in Medellín. The sectors highlighted in this regard were software development, AI, cybersecurity, as well as e-commerce; outsourcing of services; medical equipment, telemedicine, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics; as well as manufacturing and auto parts.
Finally, Mayor Gutiérrez Zuluaga and Ambassador McNamara discussed the current state of the country’s economy and the development challenges it faces in the coming years.
Since 2008, ICA Medellín has managed just over US$710 million in foreign direct investment from 103 projects. The United States is the main source of investment in the city.