The Colombian economy, and Medellín’s in particular, are currently very attractive to foreign investors, which is why a group of business executives from the European Union came into town with the intention of exploring the endless possibilities and investment opportunities.

At the head of the group is the EU’s Ambassador in Colombia, Maria Antonia Van Gool, who is visiting Medellín for the third time and has expressed admiration for the city’s technological advances as well as its ambition to incorporate itself into the global economy. “Our countries are convinced of it, the city’s willingness to develop gets our attention and that’s why we’re here. Medellín stands out in the fields of technology, aerospace, health, beauty products and agriculture”, Ms. Van Gool said.

The meeting took place yesterday morning in the Ruta N. building; Mayor Anibal Gaviria was in attendance.

Colombia’s economy could grow 5,8 percent in 2012 as a result of positive economic dynamics boosted in great part by the Free Trade Agreement with the United States, officially in effect as of yesterday.

The president of the National Business Executives’ Association (Andi), Luis Carlos Villegas, said the agreement will be in effect for more than six months this year and hence will weigh heavily on the GDP’s growth. He pointed out that the deal will play a crucial role in the country’s economic growth over the next few years.

Colombian business executives are ready to invest in preparing to make the most out of this and other agreements currently in effect between Colombia and other countries. More than 68 percent of Colombian executives, according to the Industrial Opinion Poll, are undergoing a modernization process and investing in innovation in order to face new possibilities and challenges.

The Superior Council of the Judicature ruled that the ordinary justice system is competent to prosecute Francisco Rojas Birry, sentenced to eight years in prison for taking 200 million pesos from the pyramid scheme DMG to finance his campaign for Bogotá’s Personería.

The Council explained that the incident for which Rojas is under investigation did not take place on indigenous territory nor is it related to “the uses and customs of the indigenous culture”, in which case indigenous authorities might have been able to obtain jurisdiction.

Colombia’s National Indigenous Organization, Onic, had asked the Council to allow indigenous authorities to be the ones to prosecute Rojas Birry.

The former Minister of Justice and the Interior, Fernando Londoño Hoyos, emerged unharmed from a terrorist attack against his life. An explosion today around noon on the corner of 74^th and Caracas in Bogotá killed Londoño’s driver and one of his bodyguards; at least 30 others were injured.

The blast also caused damages to seven vehicles as well as a number of buildings in the area. Authorities still don’t know who is responsible for the attack, an investigation is already underway.

The Commander of the Metropolitan Police, General Luis Eduardo Martinez, said the guerrilla group Farc is responsible for the attack against former Minister of Justice and the Interior, Fernando Londoño Hoyos, today at noon in Bogotá.

Martínez could not confirm that this incident was related to a bomb disarmed earlier today that, according to authorities, was meant to be an attack against the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police in Bogotá.

If the biggest earthquake that could possibly hit Medellín were to actually hit, the damages are calculated at 14 percent of the city’s buildings, a considerable threat comparable to Armenia’s tragedy 13 years ago.

“Nothing is stable next to the Pacific,” explained engineer and earthquake resistance expert from Eafit University, Juan Diego Jaramillo. According to the expert, structures that are vital to the city in terms of mobility, massive events and emergency response will hold up well in an earthquake because they are designed to withstand such circumstances. Experts also say the city has the manpower to respond to emergencies as well as the ability to welcome outside assistance.

Despite efforts to reduce accidents in Medellín, 900 more have already been reported this year compared to the first four months of last year. As of April 23^rd, the Transportation Department had reported 12,758 accidents which have left 7,788 people injured. Fatalities, however, have declined; while this year 72 people have been killed in traffic accidents, last year there were 90 dead by the same date.

Medellín’s City Council is thinking of penalizing the Transportation Department if it fails to meet accident reduction goals. The proposal is based on a practice applied in Rome, Italy, where authorities are fined if they fail to meet certain goals, and a recent decision by the Superintendent of Ports and Transportation to impose hefty fines on national transportation organizations that fail to present strategies they are applying to fight illegality in transportation.

“If despite the resources we must approve, the campaigns, the control mechanisms and measures, they still can’t reduce accidents by at least five percent, the Department should be sanctioned,” explained Councilman Rober Bohorquez. “And let it be clear,” he added, “that I am on the Mayor and the Transportation Department’s side. But everyone’s commitment is to improve conditions on the streets of Medellín.”

A memorandum of understanding to explore the possibility of a free trade agreement is the first step taken by the Santos administration to strengthen the Colombia’s relationship with China.

During President Juan Manuel Santos’ first official visit to that country, which began yesterday, the Trade Ministers will sign a document authorizing a study that looks into the viability and sensibility of the markets. The results should be revealed in a year, before initiating negotiations which, best case scenario, would be finalized by 2014.

“They’ve given us positive signals,” President Santos said.

Meanwhile, the Santos administration hopes to pave the way so that China opens its doors to meats, dairy and agricultural products from Colombia. The group of Colombian delegates will meet with Cofco, the biggest Chinese importer of food and agricultural products, in an effort to diversify Colombia’s offer to China and level the playing field a bit. Today Colombia buys three times more from China than what it exports in prime resources to the Asian giant.

Colonel Luis Alfonso Plazas Vega’s defense team believes his 30-year prison sentence for forced disappearances during the operations to retake the Justice Palace is based on a set-up by the Attorney General and the impersonation of a key witness.

Defense attorney Jaime Granados, currently wrapped up in a debate with reporter Daniel Coronell, stands by the claims. Coronell recently said that Plazas Vega’s defense team is hurting him more than helping him.

The fact that one of the most wanted druglords in Colombia turned himself in to U.S. authorities proves that the American justice system offers legal and security benefits in its prisons in exchange for valuable information that appeal to fugitives.

Javier Antonio Calle Serna, member of ‘los Comba’, turned himself in to DEA agents in Aruba and was then transferred to New York. The deputy director of the National Police, General Jose Roberto Leon Riaño, said in a press conference that Calle turned himself in because of pressure from Colombian authorities.

“The only road left for drug traffickers and terrorists …is to turn themselves in to Colombian justice,” said General León.

Calle, alias ‘el Doctor’, was one of Colombia’s most wanted traffickers.

After a stop in Singapore, President Juan Manuel Santos moved on to China in his first official visit of the year.  The Asian giant is now Colombia’s second trading partner, after the U.S., and in this visit Mr. Santos has already signed commercial, financial cooperation, technical and cultural agreements with his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao.