• Petro threatens "forced investment," Uribe on trial, GM leaves, Sura quits, UNGRD Scandal!
    Jun 6 2024
    In this week's Colombia Business News Recap, Collective Mining keeps finding gold, President Gustavo Petro threatens the private sector with "forced investments," General Motors to close its Colombia factory, Alvaro Uribe is formally charged with bribery and witness tampering, Colombia to open 5 more consulates in the US, the US opens work and summer job visas to Colombians, the mammoth UNGRD scandal threatens the Petro administration and congressional allies at the expense of poor indigenous people dying of thirst! Grupo Sura, the insurance giant wants out of Colombia's mandatory health care system called EPS, conflict may arise with Spain and Bolivian indigenous group over the gold in the San José shipwreck 2,000 feet down in the Caribbean. Colombia has finally outlawed bullfighting! Mafia guerilla groups are flourishing and expanding under Petro's "Total Peace" fiasco, and some of these groups are building illegal roads in protected areas of the Amazon, accelerating deforestation. Links and mentions: BPRO, Colombia’s BPO Trade Association https://www.bpro.org/BPRO’s CX Summit in Cartagena https://cxsummit.com.co/Collective Mining https://www.collectivemining.com/Collective Mining Expands its Box Target Area with New High-Grade Samples; Drilling Continues https://www.financecolombia.com/collective-mining-expands-its-box-target-area-with-new-high-grade-samples-drilling-continues/Petro’s forced investment threats (Spanish) https://www.pulzo.com/economia/inversion-forzosa-bancos-propuesta-gustavo-petro-tendria-problemas-PP3613841AGeneral Motors to close its Colombia factory https://www.financecolombia.com/general-motors-to-cease-auto-manufacturing-in-colombia-ecuador/Colombia’s Minister of Labor tells GM it can’t fire workers because it is closing its factory (Spanish) https://www.mintrabajo.gov.co/comunicados/2024/mayo/mintrabajo-decreta-medidas-preventivas-o-cautelares-para-las-sociedades-general-motors-colmotores-s.a-zona-franca-industrial-colmotores-s.a.s-y-zoficol-sasUribe charged with witness tampering https://apnews.com/article/colombia-alvaro-uribe-charges-witness-tampering-bd11a922142d000db1fcac178a1a147eColombia to open new consulates, US opens work visas to Colombians https://www.financecolombia.com/colombia-announces-opening-of-five-new-consulates-in-the-us-amid-bilateral-migration-talks-in-bogota/UNGRD Scandal https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/colombia-prosecutors-weigh-immunity-ex-officials-government-corruption-case-2024-05-07/Sura wants out of the EPS health care system https://www.financecolombia.com/breaking-news-sura-seeks-to-leave-colombias-eps-health-system/Colombiás San José Shipwreck https://www.financecolombia.com/colombia-to-start-recovery-of-san-jose-galleon-shipwreck-treasure-but-many-complications-remain/Criminal groups expanding under Petro https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/colombias-illegal-armed-groups-grew-2023-secret-security-report-2024-05-07/Illegal deforestation & road building in Amazon growing while Petro Administration stands by https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/operations-destroy-illegal-roads-colombias-amazon-hit-standstill-sources-say-2024-05-27/Tracking of illegal road building https://www.maaproject.org/2024/illegal-roads-colombia/ Hacienda Napoles https://haciendanapoles.com/
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    49 mins
  • Canadian Arrested For Throwing “Narco For A Day” Parties, Jimmy Carter’s Colombia Exposé, WOM Bankrupt, Ruta-N & SAP Launch Initiative
    Apr 22 2024
    In this week’s Colombia Business News Recap:
    • Canadian Sacha Lemaire Lepage facing Narcotics, Firearms & Wildlife Abuse Charges In Colombia https://www.financecolombia.com/canadian-sacha-lemaire-lepage-facing-narcotics-firearms-wildlife-abuse-charges-in-colombia/
    • Jimmy Carter’s Colombia Blacklist Revealed https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/colombia/2024-04-15/jimmy-carters-colombia-blacklist-revealed
    • Colombian Kidnapper Hiding In Chile Captured & Sent to US https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/foreign-national-extradited-chile-united-states-kidnapping-and-assaulting-us-army-soldiers
    • WOM is bankrupt
    • Ruta-N and SAP Announce Alliance To Support Entrepreneurship and Investment in Medellín https://www.financecolombia.com/ruta-n-and-sap-announce-alliance-to-support-entrepreneurship-and-investment-in-medellin/
    • The Feria 2 Ruedas motorcycle convention returns to Medellín May 2-5, bringing commerce, fun & learning opportunities. https://www.feria2ruedas.com/en/visitantes
    Subscribe free at https://fcsubscribe.com Need to hire bilingual talent? Try EmpleoBilingüe! https://empleobilingue.com/
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    37 mins
  • Gringos gone wild! “Cannabis Jimmy,” Californian pot producer caught near Medellín; Uribe's prosecution, extreme job loss, drought condition
    Apr 13 2024
    In this week’s Colombia Business News Recap for April 13, 2024: Gringos gone wild! “Cannabis Jimmy,” Californian pot producer caught near Medellín. https://www.policia.gov.co/noticia/ciudadano-estadounidense-realizaba-tours-cannabicos-extranjeros-sabaneta Colombian economic growth stalls, 277,000 jobs lost in January & February alone. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstreams/5a4de9c0-52ef-4b3f-8592-249995492a9a/download Former President Alvaro Uribe’s prosecution moving forward under new attorney general. From 2018: Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe Submits Resignation from Senate Amid Investigation https://www.financecolombia.com/former-colombian-president-alvaro-uribe-resigns-from-senate-amid-investigation/ From 2020: Breaking News: Former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe Under House Arrest https://www.financecolombia.com/breaking-news-former-colombian-president-alvaro-uribe-under-house-arrest/ Water rationing comes to major cities in Colombia due to serious drought conditions. Collective Mining (TSX: CNL) is finding more gold, copper & silver in its Apollo porphyry. https://www.financecolombia.com/?s=cnl&id=25319 US Ambassador Palmieri meets with Medellín’s Mayor Gutierrez & pledges full support against sexual predators and human traffickers. https://www.financecolombia.com/us-government-pledges-medellin-mayor-federico-gutierrez-full-support-against-sexual-predators-human-trafficking/ The Feria 2 Ruedas motorcycle convention returns to Medellín May 2-5, bringing commerce, fun & learning opportunities. https://www.feria2ruedas.com/en/visitantes Read more at Finance Colombia https://www.financecolombia.com/Subscribe free at https://fcsubscribe.comNeed to hire bilingual talent? Try EmpleoBilingüe! https://empleobilingue.com/
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    36 mins
  • Medellín’s Pervert Problem, Antioquia Has A Cow, Chickens Sacrificed in Bogotá, Petro Fails Again
    Apr 4 2024
    In this week’s Colombia Business News Recap for April 4, 2024:
    • Petro’s health reform buried in the Colombian senate
    • Geopark (NYSE: GPRK) launches a stock buyback
    • Avianca launches flights to Montreal & Paris, but gets fined for unfair competition
    • New Colombian Public Debt ETF launched
    • Antioquia’s governor asks for public donations to complete highways
    • Improvements in the road connecting Medellín to its international airport
    • Economic uncertainty affecting foreign investment
    • Corrupt prosecutor sent to jail
    • Luis Carlos Sarmiento retires from Grupo Aval (NYSE: AVAL)
    • Chickens being sacrificed and their blood spattered over Bogotá’s Metro Construction project. See: https://x.com/andreanimalidad/status/1770142966411317525?s=20
    • Medellín is fighting back against perverts like Dominick DiVincenzo and Timothy Alan Livingston
    Read more at Finance Colombia https://www.financecolombia.com/
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    25 mins
  • A No Holds Barred Interview with Francisco Santos, Colombia’s Former Vice President
    Mar 24 2024
    In this Finance Colombia exclusive, Francisco “Pacho” Santos sits down for an in-depth interview with Loren Moss to discuss current events in Colombia. Santos is the former vice president of Colombia under Alvaro Uribe, and former Ambassador to the United States during the Ivan Duque administration.

    Santos is equally outspoken and fluent in English as he is in Spanish, and shares his opinion on:
    • Petro’s frustration, improvisation and his stalled reforms
    • Colombia’s new Attorney General Luz Adriana Camargo
    • Weaknesses in Colombia’s prosecutorial structure
    • Gustavo Petro’s “Paz Total” or “Total Peace” initiative
    • Santos’ time as a victim of kidnapping and how it shaped his politics
    • The state of the Colombia – US bilateral relationship
    • The surging cocaine production in Colombia
    • A critique of both Biden & Trump
    • The failure of US domestic drug policy
    • Colombia’s health system & Petro’s proposed health reform
    • The governance crisis at Ecopetrol
    • The Thomas Greg passport scandal in the foreign ministry
    • Fiscal discipline and institutionality in the current administration
    • The former Vice President’s future projects


    Read more at Finance Colombia https://www.financecolombia.com/
    Need to hire bilingual talent? Try EmpleoBilingüe! https://empleobilingue.com/
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    42 mins
  • Why Did The US Release One of Colombia’s Most Wanted Criminals After Crossing Border Illegally?
    Mar 16 2024
    In The Colombia Business News Recap for March 16 2023:
    • Why did the US release one of Colombia’s 10 most wanted criminals after he crossed the border illegally from México into Texas?
    • President Gustavo Petro’s frustration is reaching the boiling point as his “revolutions” fail and he calls for a constituent assembly (constitutional convention).
    • JetSmart launches domestic operations in Colombia
    • Luz Adriana Camargo is the new attorney general
    • Federico Gutierrez submits 501 corruption allegations implicating the Daniel Quintero administration to prosecutors and inspector general’s office.
    • Ecopetrol is facing a corporate governance crisis.
    • Petro has said he wants to end fossil fuels. Does he want to end Ecopetrol?



    Need to hire bilingual talent? Try EmpleoBilingüe! https://empleobilingue.com/
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    55 mins
  • Petro Administration Flails About While Economy Grinds To A Halt
    Feb 18 2024
    Covered in this podcast of Colombia Business News Recap with Loren Moss https://lorenmoss.com/ brought to you by Finance Colombia https://www.financecolombia.com/ Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro’s Struggle to Name An Attorney General.Petro’s improvisational governance causing wide ranging problems for Colombia. · Medellín’s Mayoral Runner Up & Quintero relative kicked out of city council.Medellín Mayor “Fico’s” first embarrassment, culture secretary already ousted.Public skepticism for Petro’s “Total Peace” initiative shrinks amid increasing violence. https://www.financecolombia.com/hope-is-fading-for-petros-total-peace-after-diaz-kidnapping-and-suspension-of-emc-negotiations/Homicides & suspicious deaths involving tourists reaches alarming levels. https://www.financecolombia.com/us-embassy-warns-of-rise-in-violent-crime-in-medellin-via-online-dating-applications/Losing the Panam Games is a major embarrassment for Petro Administration & loss for the entire country. https://www.financecolombia.com/colombia-working-to-restore-barranquilla-as-panam-games-host-city-after-rights-were-stripped-for-breach-of-contract/Claudia Lopez’s legacy as mayor of Bogotá. https://www.financecolombia.com/bogota-mayor-issues-ultimatum-to-colombian-consortium-building-metro-on-design-delays/Petro loses latest round in battle over Bogotá Metro. https://www.financecolombia.com/bogota-metro-faces-more-controversy-as-project-infighting-again-spills-into-the-public-sphere/The economy is stalling, reaching only 0.6% growth. https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/colombias-economy-grew-modestly-in-2023-as-rate-cut-calls-growJetSmart launches domestic operations in Colombia. https://www.financecolombia.com/jetsmart-to-start-offering-domestic-routes-within-colombia-on-march-14/Avianca changes unaccompanied minor policy. https://www.financecolombia.com/avianca-ends-unaccompanied-minor-service-for-travelers-under-14-years-old/Foreign Minister Alvaro Leyva ousted by prosecutors, replaced by Luis Gilberto Murillo. https://www.financecolombia.com/colombian-foreign-affairs-minister-suspended-for-improper-handling-of-passport-printing-bid-process/Piedad Córdoba dies, leaving a mixed and controversial legacy. https://www.financecolombia.com/ruminating-on-the-right-and-left-of-colombian-politics-following-the-death-of-piedad-cordoba/Collective Mining (TSX.V CNL) increases drilling in Caldas. https://www.financecolombia.com/collective-mining-encounters-strong-porphyry-mineralization-mobilizes-second-rig/Don't forget! Come meet the team and me at the March 7 AI/ChatGPT Happy Hour at the Marquee Hotel in Medellín. https://www.financecolombia.com/finance-colombia-readers-are-invited-chatgpt-genai-happy-hour-event-march-7-on-medellin/Disclosure: As I mentioned, I am long on Collective because I am impressed with the operation. Collective is not a sponsor of Finance Colombia or this podcast.
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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • November Post Election Analysis, Rising Insecurity in Colombia
    Nov 14 2023
    Colombia Business News Recap: November Post Election Analysis, Rising Insecurity in Colombia
    • Electoral recap and analysis: https://www.financecolombia.com/what-jumps-out-musings-about-colombias-local-elections-and-context-regarding-the-rebuke-of-president-petro/
    • Hope Is Fading for Petro’s Total Peace After Díaz Kidnapping and Suspension of EMC Negotiations: https://www.financecolombia.com/hope-is-fading-for-petros-total-peace-after-diaz-kidnapping-and-suspension-of-emc-negotiations/
    The following citations are in Spanish…
    • Daniel Quintero’’s ticket humiliated in Medellin: https://www.elcolombiano.com/medellin/elecciones-2023-candidatos-de-daniel-quintero-resultados-votaciones-HB23006706

    • Expat deaths up 28% in Medellín so far this year: https://www.elcolombiano.com/medellin/incremento-de-muerte-de-extranjeros-en-medellin-AH23065401
    • Seven of Quintero’s staff facing corruption charges: https://www.elcolombiano.com/medellin/quienes-son-los-exfuncionarios-de-daniel-quintero-imputados-por-corrupcion-fiscalia-BI23096061
    • Petro’s faltering “Total Peace” initiative: https://www.eltiempo.com/justicia/investigacion/procuradora-margarita-cabello-expresa-su-preocupacion-por-la-paz-total-y-por-el-eln-825473
    • Claudia Lopez tells President Petro to stop meddling in Metro project: https://www.eltiempo.com/bogota/bogota-nueva-pulla-de-claudia-lopez-a-gustavo-petro-por-metro-y-subsidios-824172
    • Kidnappings up 88% in Antioquia: https://www.elcolombiano.com/antioquia/aumento-del-secuestro-en-antioquia-este-ano-OG23079766
    Special discount for listeners, viewers and readers to attend the Bonds, Loans & ESG Capital Markets – Latin America & Caribbean event from November 27-28 in Miami at the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne. https://www.financecolombia.com/finance-colombia-is-a-supporting-partner-for-the-largest-corporate-and-investment-banking-event-in-latin-america-and-the-caribbean/

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    37 mins