As one writer put it, “Medellín tells the compelling story of a city which has transformed itself from a notoriously violent city to one that is being held up as a model for urban innovation within a span of just two decades. Today, Medellín is a city that celebrates life – resolute in its commitment to create a more just, more human, freer and happier home for its inhabitants.”
Check out Colombia’s transformation featuring Medellín here:
- http://www.cbsnews.com/news/60-minutes-colombia-after-civil-war-lara-logan/
- http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2013/10/17/n-medellin-transformation-most-innovative-city-public-works.cnnmoney/
Over the last two decades the Colombian government continues to pass business friendly reforms and create an atmosphere that encourage foreign investment. These reforms have simplified the whole process of applying for construction permits, acquiring credit and above all protecting investments. Reforms have made Colombia the easiest place to do business in South America according to the World Bank’s recent Easy to Business Report.
Standard and Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch all upgraded Colombia to “investment grade” status, recently citing “prudent economic policies and increased resiliency to internal and external shocks.” These ratings opened the door to an even greater flood of institutional foreign investment. Widespread business reforms have improved Colombia’s business environment.
The Global Competitiveness Index rated Medellín as the best city in Colombia as measured by economic strtength, international appeal and human capital.