by: Eleonora Betancur González (Executive Director ACI Medellín)

Leading the internationalization of Medellín in the context of a pandemic has been challenging, but at the same time, it forced us to rethink how to position the city in the world, how to continue being close to our foreign partners and keep their interest in our territory alive.

This global emergency taught us that nations must unite to overcome crises, that we are very vulnerable and that cooperation and solidarity will be key to facing what the future holds. Therefore, in ACI Medellín, as an agency supporting the sustainable development of the city through cooperation and attraction of foreign investment, we united efforts to manage donations of medical supplies for our health personnel. We also coordinated the international management toward projects that will consolidate the Development Plan for the Future Medellín 2020 – 2023.

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The goals and challenges of the city never end. We have adjusted our strategies of relations with the international communities by leveraging virtual channels. We innovated in new formats, invited investors from other countries who know the advantages and human talent that Medellín offers. We also led the city’s participation in important global discussion spaces, key to charting the path of post-pandemic recovery.

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Our main areas of work: international cooperation and foreign investment, are two vital tools for consolidating the economic revival and restoring the social fabric. In a world still uncertain under COVID-19, the task of governments and the public sector becomes more important. From our place, we will appeal to our diplomacy and capacity of gathering to unite the experiences that Medellín needs most.

In this magazine, you will find stories, voices and other actions of Future Medellín. Within these pages, there are details of the most ambitious and largest projects the city has led during the past 25 years, such as the Metro of 80th Ave., the 101 strategy for a software valley, success stories of international companies with headquarters in the city, a look at the role of international cooperation in today’s context, the epicenter of education for the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Ciudadela Occidente, culture and music in the neighborhoods, among others. You’ll find the city’s commitment to respecting diversity and enhancing peace-building, the road to environmental sustainability, which are some of the articles that make up this edition.

Resilience, strength and determination will remain great news for the world. The challenges ahead are undoubtedly more difficult and to face them, we will continue to strengthen alliances with the world, sharing our best and bringing the world to the city.

 

The responsibility for building a better future lies within us. At ACI Medellín, we have taken on the challenge of joining that global commitment. Welcome to the future!

Eleonora Betancur González