AGP Executive Report

Cybersecurity & Industry Risk: Sophos’ latest ransomware report says 79% of attacks start with compromised identities, while malicious email and phishing lead initial access—an urgent signal for Colombian manufacturers and logistics firms tightening access controls. Public Safety & Enforcement: New reports say ICE ordered most traffic stops to pause after fatal shootings, including a Colombian man killed in Maine; the agency also faces renewed scrutiny over body cameras and enforcement tactics. Agribusiness & Exports: A Colombian-linked cocoa study highlights bacteria that can reduce cadmium uptake in cocoa plants, aiming to help producers meet WHO-linked market rules. Mining & Fertilizers: Aguia Resources booked $2.3M in phosphate sales in Brazil after commissioning its Três Estradas plant, with early deliveries to major soybean and cattle operators. Energy & Policy: Colombia’s incoming vice president-elect Jose Manuel Restrepo signals a push to free up the economy and strengthen U.S. relations as the new administration prepares to take over. Infrastructure & Trade: Valenciaport trained 33 port professionals from across Latin America, including Colombia, on modern port management—supporting smoother regional logistics. Aviation & Tourism: Wingo launched year-round Barranquilla–Aruba flights, adding nonstop connectivity for Colombia’s Caribbean travel market. Housing: DANE data shows Colombia’s housing deficit fell to 25.6% in 2025, with both quantitative and qualitative gaps improving.

Aviation & Tourism: Wingo launched a new year-round route between Barranquilla and Aruba (twice weekly from July 9), adding to its Bucaramanga–Aruba service and expanding Aruba’s direct links to five Colombian cities—good news for Colombia’s Caribbean travel demand. Ports & Logistics: Valenciaport hosted a UNCTAD TrainForTrade course on modern port management, bringing together 33 port professionals from Spanish-speaking countries including Colombia, with Cartagena among the represented port authorities. Agri & Food Markets: A new FAO report says global coffee, cocoa and tea price swings are driven mainly by supply and demand shifts, with structural vulnerabilities and market concentration raising the stakes for producers. Climate & Resilience: UBS warns El Niño could hit Latin America’s inflation and delay rate cuts, flagging Colombia as the most exposed due to food and electricity price sensitivity. Digital Skills: In Manizales, older adults are learning to spot misinformation about El Niño heat scares through a media literacy course at Universidad de Caldas. Energy/Industry Policy: Colombia’s outgoing environment minister warns climate gains could be reversed under the incoming government, as policy direction shifts. Labor & Security Spillover: In the U.S., ICE ordered to suspend most vehicle stops after deadly shootings, while Colombia-linked cases in Maine keep fueling protests—an indirect pressure point for cross-border mobility and enforcement narratives.

Climate & Risk: Colombia is flagged as the most exposed in UBS’s warning that a potentially “super” El Niño could hit Latin America with inflation pressure, crop and hydropower shocks, and wider strain on fragile economies. Energy & Environment Policy: Colombia’s outgoing environment minister Irene Vélez Torres warns the incoming government could roll back climate and conservation gains, citing support for fracking and fossil fuel expansion. Mining/Power Oversight: Medellín’s comptroller is probing an alleged COP 108.6 billion loss tied to a Hidroituango contractor switch. International Finance & Transition: Vice President-elect José Manuel Restrepo meets World Bank leadership in Washington to align a 2026–2030 roadmap, including fiscal consolidation and economic reactivation support. Immigration Enforcement Fallout (US): A fatal ICE shooting in Biddeford, Maine, identified by rights groups as a 26-year-old Colombian, sparks renewed scrutiny of enforcement tactics and accountability. Global Trade/Logistics: A Laredo international trade summit highlights cross-border commerce and logistics costs amid uncertainty around the US-Mexico-Canada framework. Agribusiness Markets: FAO points to structural vulnerabilities behind volatile global coffee, cocoa and tea prices, urging stronger production systems and market transparency.

El Niño Risk for Colombia’s Industry: UBS warns a potentially powerful El Niño could hit Latin American markets, with Colombia flagged as the most exposed due to food and electricity-price shocks, sticky inflation, and weak public finances—raising odds of faster inflation and longer high interest rates. Energy Sector Push: Energy Solutions was confirmed as a National Sponsor of Venezuela Energy Week, spotlighting power-sector reforms aimed at bringing more private participation to generation, transmission, and distribution—key for engineering and maintenance demand across the region. Colombia-Linked ICE Fatality in the US: In Maine, U.S. ICE officers shot and killed a 26-year-old man identified by advocates as Colombian during a deportation-related operation; Sen. Angus King says the vehicle was described as “weaponized,” while the Maine attorney general investigates and the officer is on leave. Deep-Sea Science: An Atlantic expedition captured rare live footage of the barreleye fish with a transparent head, adding to knowledge of hard-to-study deep-ocean ecosystems. Tech for Mobility: Google rolled out Gemini-powered updates to Waze, including “less chatty” navigation, conversational map editing, and voice destination search. Mining Watch: Outcrop Silver will present live on July 23 on its Santa Ana high-grade silver project in Colombia.

Science & Talent in Colombia: The 56th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) 2026 in Bucaramanga crowned India with a clean sweep: five students won gold and India shared joint World No. 1 with China, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea and Taiwan (381 students from 87 countries). Mining & Production: Aguia Resources says its Santa Barbara gold project is hitting its stride after restructuring, with June output rising to 851.9 grams from 100 tonnes and ore grading above 10 g/t as the team mines higher-grade zones. AI for Humanitarian Ops: Cloudera and Mercy Corps launched VERA, an AI tool built on Cloudera AI Studios and AWS, to speed crisis research and reporting; it’s already used for election security work in Colombia and food-security analysis in Sudan. Energy Policy Watch: Colombia’s outgoing environment minister warns the next government could roll back climate and conservation gains, including protections tied to Indigenous governance in the Amazon and wetlands. Industrial Policy: Colombia’s government plans to introduce an anti-fracking bill on July 20, citing environmental, social and public-health risks. Tech & Industry Finance: Orthocell posted record FY2026 and June-quarter revenue as US Remplir rollout accelerates, with hospital purchases and surgeon adoption rising.

Energy & Policy: Colombia will introduce an anti-fracking bill on July 20, with Mines and Energy and Environment ministries citing environmental, social, and public health risks and framing it as part of a low-carbon energy transition. Regional Reconstruction: Venezuela rejected Colombia president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella’s remarks about taking charge of housing reconstruction after the June earthquakes, calling them an affront to sovereignty and saying Venezuela will lead its own plan. Industrial & Logistics: Frontier Airlines adds eight Caribbean and Latin America routes, including a daily San Juan–Punta Cana link, as it reshapes capacity after Spirit’s reductions—good news for tourism-linked passenger flows into Colombia’s region. Standards & Sustainability: ISO launched a public consultation for a new international standard on net-zero alignment, aiming to help organizations turn targets into structured, verifiable transition plans. Aviation/Trade: US EIA data shows the US imported no crude oil from Iraq for a second straight week, while Colombia remained a supplier to the US market. Science & Talent: Colombia hosted the 56th International Physics Olympiad, where India won five golds and Pakistan took three bronzes—another signal of growing regional STEM competitiveness.

Energy & Trade: US Energy Information Administration data shows the US imported zero crude from Iraq for the second straight week, while Canada remained the top supplier; Venezuela, Mexico, Ecuador, Brazil and Colombia also shipped volumes, with Colombia at 134,000 bpd. Legal & Governance: Colombia’s incoming president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella faces pressure over plans to dismantle the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (SJP), a tribunal protected by the constitution and backed by the International Criminal Court. Politics & Reconstruction: Venezuela rejected any role for Colombia’s president-elect in earthquake housing reconstruction, insisting recovery is a sovereign Venezuelan responsibility. Industrial Capacity in Colombia: TIS Studios expanded its Bogotá complex with Stage 7, an 18,300-square-foot soundstage aimed at attracting large international film and TV productions. Agribusiness & Exports: A sargassum-to-fertilizer initiative in Mexico is exporting organic fertilizer to the US, Colombia and Ecuador, targeting further growth into Europe and Brazil. Infrastructure & Disaster Response: Casanare’s floods have affected 4,200+ families, with rivers overflowing into agricultural and residential areas.

Film & Production Capacity: TIS Studios opened Stage 7 at its Bogotá complex, adding an 18,300-square-foot soundstage (40 feet high) aimed at landing more large-scale international film and TV shoots, with soundproofing, technical grid, climate control, and access to casting and standing sets. Energy & Oil Policy Watch: Colombia’s incoming government is moving to reshape energy policy, with coverage highlighting the potential to reverse the country’s oil and gas decline under President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella. Disaster & Infrastructure Pressure: Eastern Colombia’s Casanare floods have affected 4,200+ families, with river overflows damaging agricultural and residential areas and forcing emergency deployments. Coffee Science & Circular Industry: ITM University, UDEA, UNAD and Natucafe are testing coffee mucilage—an industrial byproduct—for colorectal cancer prevention using 3D in vitro tumor models, pointing to new value chains for coffee production waste. Governance & Cabinet Compliance: De la Espriella’s cabinet appointments are still incomplete, with six ministerial posts missing and a legal requirement that top-level roles meet a 50% female participation quota. Regional Reconstruction Diplomacy: Venezuela says it alone will plan and execute reconstruction after its June 24 double earthquake, rejecting coordination plans with Colombia’s incoming government. Aviation & Connectivity: Aruba Tourism Authority and Wingo are strengthening Colombia-to-Aruba travel ties via training for travel advisors in Bucaramanga. Culture & Textiles: Nobsa (Boyacá) launched the Ruana Festival “Pal Mundo, Sumerce” (July 10-12) to boost tourism and local artisan production around Colombia’s iconic ruana.

Drug Trafficking Pressure: U.S. strikes at sea are failing to dent cocaine and fentanyl flows, with prices staying stable and cartels adapting supply chains. Aviation & Tourism Connectivity: JetBlue launches new daily nonstop flights between Fort Lauderdale and Barranquilla from Oct. 1, boosting Colombia’s Caribbean airlift and adding competition on the route. Energy & Industry Update: LNG Energy Group reports 1H 2026 natural gas production averaging 5,449 Mcf/d and notes declines tied to subsurface casing obstructions affecting repairs. Film & Production Resilience: Colombia-linked productions keep shooting despite constraints; Cuba’s ICAIC says it’s sustaining exhibitions and restoration shipments even with power limits. Governance & Risk: Colombia’s outgoing environment minister warns incoming policy could roll back climate and conservation gains amid El Niño-linked extremes. Electoral Integrity Claim: President Petro alleges systemic fraud in overseas voting tables and calls for a full judicial investigation. Media & Culture: Bogotá Audiovisual Market (BAM) closes its 17th edition with higher attendance and dozens of prizes, signaling momentum for local screen production. Artisanal Economy: Nobsa’s Ruana Festival (July 10-12) spotlights the high-mountain wool garment as a tourism and jobs engine.

Colombia’s Finance Pulse: Colombia’s banks bounced back in 2025, with operating revenues up to 426.4 trillion pesos and net profits rising 71.1%, driven by better profitability and a gradual recovery in loan demand. UN Digital Payments: UNDP is moving blockchain-based humanitarian payments from pilots to a “standing capability,” expanding work already tested in Colombia and other countries to cut aid payment costs and improve resilience. Energy & Renewables: Colombia brought a 360 MW solar park into commercial operation, adding to the country’s push for new generation capacity. Mining Output Update: Aura Minerals reported Q2 2026 preliminary production of 75,437 gold equivalent ounces and record first-half output, with sales up year over year. Logistics for Disaster Relief: Amazon Air will run seven weekly cargo flights from Miami to Caracas to support Venezuela earthquake relief, coordinating with Airlink and the UN World Food Programme. Agriculture & Inputs: A new report projects strong growth for the agricultural pheromone market through 2033, signaling continued investment interest in crop protection tools. Aviation Demand Outlook: Airbus forecasts rising passenger airliner demand through 2045, citing growth in flights per capita including Colombia. World Cup Business Impact: Caracol drew over 75% of free-to-air audience share for Colombia’s World Cup matches, underscoring major local media pull.

Renewables & Power Buildout: Colombia has started commercial operations for the 360 MWp Puerta de Oro solar park in Cundinamarca, feeding the National Interconnected System and adding large-scale photovoltaic capacity. Aviation & Connectivity: Wingo launched new year-round direct service between Barranquilla and Aruba, plus a seasonal Bucaramanga route, boosting Colombia–Caribbean travel demand. Agri-Exports: Colombian cocoa exports to the U.S. hit record levels, with 2025 shipments reaching US$413.1M and showing strong growth in processed and semi-processed value-added products. Commodities Watch: Corn and soybeans traded lower in U.S. markets amid USDA export-sale updates, with Colombia appearing among key destinations in the latest figures. Energy Transition & Industry: A new report maps Colombia’s energy-transition copper boom, while another highlights how unions are pushing for energy democratization. Finance & Inclusion: Cartagena will host the Microfinance Summit for Latin America and the Caribbean (Summic) on Sept. 28–29, focusing on fintech, regulation and cybersecurity for financial inclusion. Governance & Peace Process: Colombia’s peace tribunal (SJP) faces uncertainty as the president-elect vows to dismantle it, though constitutional and International Criminal Court safeguards complicate any shutdown. Environment & Climate Storage: Researchers say Colombia’s peatlands could store more CO2 than the Amazon, pointing to a major hidden carbon sink.

Renewables & Grid Expansion: Colombia brought the 360 MWp Puerta de Oro Solar Park into commercial operation, feeding clean power into the National Interconnected System and supporting jobs and tax revenue in Cundinamarca. Energy Policy: Colombia authorized its first geothermal exploration permit (El Barranquero) for a five-year study phase near Caldas and Antioquia, aiming to assess potential for future electricity generation. Industrial Competitiveness: Colombian manufacturers warn that Chinese factory expansion could reshape local production and jobs, citing risks like dumping, subsidies, forced labor, and labeling fraud. AI for Humanitarian Response: Cloudera and Mercy Corps unveiled VERA, an agentic AI assistant to help humanitarian teams turn large datasets into localized crisis insights. Brand Measurement in Media: Cint partnered with WPP Media LATAM to standardize brand impact measurement across platforms, with Colombia among the next rollout markets. Mining & Offshore Engineering: Modec hit a hull fabrication milestone for Shell’s Orca FPSO in Brazil, with Colombia’s Ecopetrol holding a 30% stake. Solar Investment Pipeline: Cubico appointed Jens-Peter Saul as permanent CEO after milestones including construction progress in Colombia. Court & Peace Process: Colombia’s Special Jurisdiction for Peace faces uncertainty as the president-elect vows to dismantle it, raising constitutional and international safeguards questions.

Renewables & Grid Reliability: Colombia’s Puerta de Oro solar park in Cundinamarca (Patria Investments) has started commercial operations, delivering 360 MW to the National Interconnected System via a 23 km, 230 kV line—supporting reliability ahead of 2024 auction commitments and expected to generate 700 GWh/year. Gaming & Investment Signals: Playtech raised its outlook, expecting adjusted EBITDA of at least €270m for 2026, with momentum tied to growth in the Americas and continued strength in Mexico and Colombia. Trade & Industry Pressure: Colombia’s metallurgical coke faces an India antidumping tariff push (US$118.55/ton), with Fenalcarbon alleging Petro-era inaction left the sector without a technical defense. Energy Risk Watch: A “very strong” El Niño is forecast to raise extreme-weather risks across South America, with implications for water, power, and industrial continuity in Colombia. Aviation & Connectivity: JetBlue is expanding Fort Lauderdale as a major hub and adding new Colombia routes, boosting capacity and Latin America access for business and travel-linked demand. Food Systems Forum: Terra Madre Salone del Gusto returns to Turin (Sept 24–27) to tackle food production, distribution, and biodiversity challenges—relevant for Colombia’s agri-industry stakeholders.

Energy Transition & Mining: A new regional analysis warns Latin America could face a copper shortfall by 2035 as the energy transition accelerates demand, with Colombia and Argentina among the most active jurisdictions as hundreds of permits and licenses move forward. Climate Risk: Scientists say a very strong El Niño is likely to intensify in late 2026, raising the odds of extreme weather across South America—heavier rain in some areas, severe drought in others. Colombia Drug Policy: UNODC data shows coca cultivation in Colombia reached 261,000 hectares in 2024 (+3.5% vs. 2023), with growth increasingly concentrated in “enclave” zones—setting up pressure for an incoming administration to restart eradication. Aviation & Connectivity: Copa’s Starlink in-flight Wi‑Fi will be free only for a subset of passengers (not everyone), with access tied to cabin and loyalty tiers. Food Systems: Terra Madre Salone del Gusto returns to Turin in September, framing food as central to conflict, climate shocks, and rising living costs. Governance & Risk Skills: Certiprof launched an ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management Professional certification aimed at boosting practical risk competence.

Gaming & Retail Expansion: Play’n GO says its full portfolio is now live in Colombia via Betano, reinforcing the push for regulated-market growth with titles like Book of Dead and Reactoonz. Sports & National Industry Spotlight: Colombia’s World Cup run ended in Vancouver with a goalless Round of 16 versus Switzerland, decided 4-3 on penalties; coach Néstor Lorenzo blamed the lack of scoring despite 15 attempts and defended key substitutions. Energy Transition Debate: Colombia’s energy unions argue the transition should drive reindustrialization and energy/food sovereignty, promoting worker cooperatives across renewables, tech, and agriculture. Cultural Heritage for Rural Economies: A petroglyph “School of Petroglyphs” in Tamesis, Antioquia, trains local farmers to preserve ancient engravings and turn heritage into community value. Agribusiness & Supply Resilience: Tropic acquired Rahan Meristem to scale banana plant propagation across major growing regions, targeting disease resistance and longer shelf-life for Cavendish growers. Politics & Governance: President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella abruptly froze the “empalme” transition talks with Petro’s government, escalating a dispute over election legitimacy.

World Cup & Consumer Demand: Colombia fans turned Vancouver into a sea of yellow ahead of Switzerland’s Round of 16 clash, with major crowds and fan marches at BC Place. Energy Security: Colombia faces a potential Super El Niño-driven energy crunch, with drought risks threatening hydro output and forcing costlier thermal generation amid natural gas import dependence. Aviation & Infrastructure Oversight: Colombia’s Inspector General opened a preventive inquiry into four stalled rural airport projects after reports showed heavy budget spending with minimal physical progress. Trade & Manufacturing: Colombia issued a 35% tariff on colorless float glass imports from non-FTA countries for five years, aiming to protect local production and curb trade diversion. Finance: The peso gained 7.4% in June, with Bancolombia linking the rally to election-driven shifts in local expectations despite weaker external signals. Media & Creative Industries: Netflix named Ana María Londoño as head of content for Colombia, signaling continued investment in local storytelling. Mining Update: Denarius Metals reported high-grade gold and silver results from early in-fill drilling at its Las Brisas target in Colombia.