The abundance of competitive advantages makes the Eastern Antioquia region a crucial contributor to the growth and development of both the department and the nation.
Located in Colombia's Andean region, Eastern Antioquia plays a crucial role in the country's energy and electricity system. Thanks to its abundant water resources and a total of six dams and five hydroelectric power plants, including Playas, Guatapé, San Carlos, Jaguas, and Calderas, this region generates a significant amount of power. Specifically, the power plants in this region produce 26% of the country's electricity and 68% of the department's electricity. The region's contribution to the nation's power supply is immense and underscores the importance of this area for the country's energy security.
The region of Eastern Antioquia boasts an enormous potential for tourism thanks to its abundant natural resources and diverse biodiversity. Visitors to the area can immerse themselves in several historic and scenic resources, such as the Tequendamita waterfall, the Piedra de El Peñol, and the Guatapé Dam. There are a variety of tourist routes to explore, including The Nature, Water, and Stones Route, The Cultural and Arts-and-Crafts Route, and The History, Paramos, and Hot Springs Route, offering tourists an array of choices for their travel itinerary.
Eastern Antioquia is an essential part of Colombia's transportation infrastructure, linking the country's capital city, Bogotá, to both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, as well as to the east and west regions. It boasts a network of road corridors that connect its 23 municipalities and links the area to two of Colombia's most significant metropolitan areas: Medellín and Bogotá.
The potential for agricultural production in Eastern Antioquia is significant, particularly for fruits and vegetables such as strawberries, potatoes, bell peppers, beets, cabbages, avocados, carrots, tomatoes, green beans, blackberries, borojós, uchuvas, guavas, and lulos. The region is a primary agricultural provider for Antioquia, the Atlantic Coast region, Valle del Cauca, and the Magdalena Medio region. Additionally, the region's agro-industry exports flowers, including hydrangeas, roses, pom poms, chrysanthemums, and astromelias, with the United States and Puerto Rico being the primary export destinations.
With the rapid industrialization in Eastern Antioquia, the services infrastructure has also undergone significant development. The region boasts of an international airport, research centers, and a free trade zone. The José María Córdova airport, which is the second busiest airport in the country, has Rionegro as its home. Another notable institution based in the region is CORNARE, which focuses on environmental protection, clean production, community participation, and environmental education.
The economy of Eastern Antioquia is supported by various productive and community guild associations that focus on strengthening corporate organizations in different sectors, such as tourism, dairy, Hass avocado, creative, textile, and aeronautical industries. The region's education system is also a significant contributor to its industrialization, as it offers technical training institutes, vocational schools, and higher education institutions like Universidad de Antioquia, Universidad Católica de Oriente, Universidad EAFIT, Institución Universitaria Esumer, Politécnico Jaime Isaza Cadavid, and SENA across multiple municipalities. The potential for Eastern Antioquia to become a metropolitan area and airport hub, its cultural richness, access to international markets for its products, and the ingenuity and inventiveness of its residents and enterprises all contribute to the region's competitiveness.
In conclusion, Eastern Antioquia offers many competitive advantages that stimulate new businesses and the generation of wealth. These advantages include the José Maria Córdova International Airport, the Eastern Tunnel, well-connected roads among municipalities, a per capita GDP exceeding the national average, an export-oriented business sector, a free trade zone, and a thriving business growth environment. As a result, Eastern Antioquia is a favorable location for the social and economic advancement of its residents.
Source: Chamber of commerce of Eastern Antioquia. Eastern Antioquia Competitive Advantages, october, 2020.
Photo: Santiago Marquez
