AGP Executive Report

Drones in Colombia: The army says armed groups are using increasingly sophisticated drones, including grenade-carrying models dropped from different altitudes and wire-guided systems, as drone attacks jumped sharply in 2025. Trade & forced labor: The U.S. USTR proposed new Section 301 tariffs on imports from 60 economies over forced-labor concerns, with Colombia among the countries facing potential higher costs. Space & tech markets: A new report forecasts strong growth for oncology companion diagnostics, driven by biomarker-guided cancer therapies. Local economy & real estate: Bogotá is ranked Latin America’s most cost-competitive city for premium office fit-outs, helped by lower professional fees and incentives from higher vacancy. Education diplomacy (Korea): South Korea launches a digital Korean studies network across Latin America, with Colombia included via accredited online courses. Environment & climate: El Niño is “evolving” and could affect Colombia’s weather and inflation pressures. Biodiversity watch: University of Florida researchers say invasive spectacled caimans are spreading in Florida’s Everglades, and they’re asking the public to report sightings. Colombia investment signal: Foreign direct investment rose in Colombia in Q1 2026, up year-on-year despite longer-term declines.

Biodiversity Breakthrough: Scientists report the first photographic record in over two decades of the dwarf island fox on Cozumel, after rescuing and releasing an adult male—an important step for conservation planning on isolated habitats. Public Health & Climate Risk: A new report warns extreme heat is more likely during the 2026 World Cup than in 1994, with climate change raising the odds of unsafe conditions in multiple host cities. Colombia Economy: Foreign direct investment rose to US$3.8B in Colombia’s first quarter of 2026, up 34.4% year-on-year, signaling renewed investor interest despite a longer-term slowdown. Digital Education Diplomacy: Seoul’s Korea Foundation launches a virtual Korean studies network across six Latin American universities, including Colombia, with courses counting toward regular degree credits. Wildlife Monitoring Call: University of Florida researchers ask the public to report spectacled caiman sightings in Florida via the IVEGOT1 app, as invasive breeding may complicate Everglades restoration. Sustainability Spotlight: Premios Verdes releases its 2026 ranking of 500 socio-environmental projects; Colombia leads with 112 entries.

Colombia Tech & Policy: A Colombian presidential campaign escalated its digital fight: Iván Cepeda says he’ll file a criminal complaint over alleged AI-generated defamation and vote-buying tied to Abelardo De la Espriella, pushing for a debate involving major broadcasters. Fintech & Trading: XS.com wrapped its Latin America roadshow with a private, two-part Medellín event for introducing brokers/partners and retail traders, highlighting its multi-asset trading infrastructure and education push after regional awards. Space & Retail Investing: SpaceX’s IPO (SPCX) is drawing heavy retail demand, with reports that up to 30% of shares may be reserved for individuals and that eligibility depends on brokerage account minimums and an indication-of-interest step. Public Safety Tech: OnCallColombia launched direct electronic FBI Channeler submissions in Colombia, aiming to speed background checks for visas, residency, and employment deadlines without mailing ink fingerprint cards. Health & Biosecurity: CDC alerts in the US expand Ebola screening at Atlanta and update concerns around travel-related cosmetic “medical tourism,” with Latin America flagged as a key travel corridor. Environment & Data: A satellite-based study finds mangroves are recovering globally, with gains outpacing losses since 2010—good news for biodiversity and climate resilience.

Sustainability & Circular Economy: Turkey’s TIKA showcased 13 recycling and waste-management projects across 10 countries at Istanbul’s Zero Waste Festival, including a solid waste recycling initiative in Colombia and programs turning olive waste into reusable products in Palestine. Public Safety (Lightning): Lightning protection specialists say many storm deaths come from people being exposed outdoors; the key advice is to seek shelter in a safe building and follow technical standards. Health (Ebola + Medical Tourism): The CDC issued two alerts affecting travelers: expanded enhanced Ebola screening at Atlanta’s airport and warnings about adverse outcomes tied to travel for cosmetic procedures, with Los Angeles flagged for medical tourism risks. Climate (El Niño for Colombia): Colombia is bracing for El Niño with 80% likelihood, potentially bringing heat waves, water shortages, fires, and pressure on food and energy. Biotech & Environment (Mercury Cleanup): Colombia’s SINCHI found mercury-tolerant bacteria in Amazon mining sediments that could support bioremediation to reduce toxic mercury in rivers and wetlands. Digital Services (FBI checks): OnCallColombia launched Colombia’s first direct FBI Channeler electronic submission service, aiming to speed up background checks for visas and deadlines. Space Investing (SpaceX IPO): Reuters explains how U.S. retail investors can access SpaceX’s IPO via broker eligibility and indication-of-interest steps, with varying minimums and no guarantee of fills.

Digital Identity & Public Services: OnCallColombia launched Colombia’s first direct FBI Channeler electronic submission service, helping Americans in Colombia avoid mailing ink fingerprint cards and meet visa, residency, employment, and licensing deadlines faster. Climate Risk: Colombia is bracing for an El Niño event with 80% likelihood, with worst-case heat waves, water shortages, bush fires, and pressure on food and energy systems. Reusable Packaging: PR3, a Colombia-based design team behind the new reuse symbol, unveiled a global marking to push reuse systems beyond recycling alone, aiming to cut single-use packaging and emissions. Health & Prevention: A new hemispheric review reiterates that stroke risk is largely driven by high blood pressure and that prevention depends more on reaching people with care than on new medicines. Mobility & Tech in Cities: A report highlights water taxis as a growing electric, multimodal urban mobility layer, with Colombia now included among live markets. Environment & Materials: Colombia is developing natural anti-corrosion coatings using avocado, coffee, and plantain waste.

Reusable Packaging Push: PR3, a Colombia-based global reuse alliance, unveiled a new universal symbol for reusable packaging and reuse systems, saying reuse can cut single-use packaging production by up to 90% and emissions by up to 80%. Colombia Tech & Payments: Oobit reports USDT dominates stablecoin payments across Latin America, with Colombia at ~98% of stablecoin transaction volume as it scales cash-like crypto use locally. Corrosion Fix from Waste: A Colombia project is developing natural coatings to slow metal corrosion using avocado, coffee, and plantain peel residues. Energy Debate Reignites: A leading Colombian presidential contender is pushing to fully reopen fracking, reviving the country’s oil-vs-renewables fight ahead of World Environment Day. Cybersecurity Warning: Researchers flagged the Silent Ransom Group’s fast-flux infrastructure and extortion tactics, warning law firms and other sectors. World Cup Tech Ops (Miami): FIFA is running a high-tech operations center in Miami-Dade to coordinate security, weather, flights, and tickets for the 2026 tournament.

Bioeconomy Training: IICA and the Latin American Bioeconomy Network launched BioSinergia 2026 webinars to help turn biological resources into productive, inclusive, sustainable projects across Latin America and the Caribbean. Materials for Sustainability: Colombia is testing natural anti-corrosion coatings made from avocado, coffee, and plantain peels plus pruning residues, aiming to cut maintenance costs from metal corrosion. Crypto Payments in Latam: Oobit says Tether’s USDT dominates stablecoin transaction volume across Latin America, with Colombia at ~98% share, and notes Colombia is now a live market for cash-like crypto usage. Agriculture Biosecurity: Texas confirmed New World screwworm in a calf after decades, and officials are pushing faster construction of a sterile-fly breeding facility to protect the cattle industry. Energy Policy Debate: Abelardo De la Espriella is pushing to fully reopen fracking in Colombia, reigniting the country’s energy transition fight. Legal Tech/Policy: Colombia is contesting an ICSID award tied to a $2.4B liability, arguing the tribunal acted properly. Climate & Inflation Risk: A study warns El Niño could add up to 3.26 points to Colombia’s inflation in the months after it arrives.

Colombia Tech Update: Defense & Aerospace: Brazil plans to expand its Saab Gripen fleet by negotiating 20 more Gripen E/F jets, boosting future inventory from 36 to 56 and accelerating replacement of aging F-5s. Healthcare Tech: A robot-assisted cardiac telesurgery claim says a surgeon in India remotely performed a procedure on a patient in Guyana over nearly 20,000 km using the SSI Mantra system. Climate & Environment: NASA reports a Pacific warm-water swell that could signal a Super El Niño later this year, raising concerns for extreme heat and rainfall disruption. Circular Packaging: A Bogotá-based design team helped launch a new global reuse symbol (PR3) meant to work alongside reuse systems, not just recycling. Agri-Health Risk: USDA confirms New World screwworm in Texas, a threat to cattle and potentially costly for the food supply chain. Colombia Spotlight: Goldman prizewinner Yuvelis Morales Blanco highlights Colombia’s anti-fracking fight to protect the Magdalena River.

Agriculture Biosecurity: The U.S. USDA confirmed New World screwworm in a 3-week-old calf in Zavala County, Texas, triggering quarantine and a sterile-fly response—an economic risk for the cattle industry and a reminder that the parasite can return after decades. Circular Food Tech: Colombia’s University of Antioquia highlights black soldier fly larvae as a scalable way to turn organic waste into animal feed, fertilizers, biofuels, and other bio-based products. Electoral Tech Governance: Colombia’s Constitutional Court struck down key parts of the new Survey Law, including rules that limited when polls could be published and demands for certain technical details. Public Health & Care: Colombia’s ENUT 2024–2025 survey finds 9 in 10 women do unpaid domestic and care work daily, averaging 7h 35m—time that can’t go to paid work or rest. Media & IP: A Chilean court ordered Amazon Prime Video to pay Chilean performers royalties, a signal that streaming platforms face growing digital copyright obligations. Global Tech Policy: Google’s “Debug” plan to release millions of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes faces public backlash as approvals are pending.

Healthcare Innovation & Partnerships: Curaçao’s Health Minister Tyron Boekhoudt visited Bogotá’s Fundación Santa Fe and CTIC to study cardiology, burn care, and advanced cancer treatment models, signaling new specialized-care cooperation. AI in Pharma Distribution: Farmagenericos Colombia says its AI procurement engine now serves 6,000+ pharmacies, cutting purchasing costs ~50% and speeding deliveries to as fast as 24 hours. Medical Tech Milestone: SS Innovations reported the world’s longest-distance robot-assisted heart telesurgery, linking Guyana and India via its SSi Mantra system. Climate Monitoring: NASA’s Sentinel-6 satellite detected a warm Kelvin wave in the Pacific pointing to likely El Niño impacts for Colombia’s coast. Fintech/Payments: PaidBy® and Mastercard announced a cross-border open-banking A2A payments partnership aimed at faster, simpler international settlement. Public Trust & Elections: Colombia’s electoral system is in crisis after Petro rejected preliminary results, with renewed scrutiny on the digital infrastructure behind voting.

Colombia’s Economy Watch: Bancolombia’s NowCast (Grupo Cibest) says growth is picking up in 2Q26, with its activity index up 2.9% year-over-year for Mar–May 2026 (from 2.2% a year earlier), and a 2Q26 GDP growth projection of 2.6%. Retail & Digital Transformation: Grupo Éxito names Paula Sanabria as Chief Commercial Officer and Juan Camilo Suárez as Chief Digital and Technology Officer to push digital transformation across its banners. Tech & Telecom Infrastructure: DIDWW expands SIP trunking to Colombia (plus Iceland, Netherlands, Belgium, Nicaragua), bringing local call termination coverage to 57 countries. Space & Climate Signals: A Sentinel-6 satellite read shows a warm Kelvin wave near Colombia/Ecuador/Peru, a sign El Niño may follow. Health Systems Risk: A new look at central line infections (CLABSIs) argues the problem isn’t knowing prevention steps—it’s getting systems and execution right. Global Science Spotlight: A study reports daddy longlegs (harvestmen) capturing live frogs in South America, suggesting this predation may be more common than expected. Aerospace Collaboration: Saab unveils the first Gripen F with Brazil, highlighting long-running tech transfer and a new innovation center plan.

Colombia Election Watch: The Carter Center urged Colombians to respect the first-round presidential results, pushing back on Petro-linked fraud claims and stressing the vote was conducted with proper guarantees. Science Spotlight: Bogota’s Faber Burgos keeps turning space and physics into mass education, from stratosphere experiments to microgravity-style storytelling. Climate & Nature: A new study with partners in Colombia and the U.S. finds sea-level rise may boost carbon in some mangrove spots at first, but likely weakens long-term carbon storage across whole forests. Connectivity for Remote Colombia: SES and TV ISLA will expand hybrid satellite broadband on Providencia Island, supporting a faster fiber-to-home rollout for about 1,500 homes. AI + Business Tech: Artefact acquired process automation firm OFI Services, adding a ~130-person team across Colombia and other markets. Global Economy: The OECD cut its 2026 growth forecast and warned recession risk if geopolitical disruptions persist.

Public Transit Reform: A new editorial argues Colombia’s mass transit has been treated with “laissez-faire” neglect, pushing commuters into reactive traffic fixes instead of a dependable, state-led system. Labor & Energy: Ecopetrol’s main union, USO, has started a 24-hour strike at production fields and refineries, citing stalled talks over the collective labor agreement and labor-rights protections amid the energy transition. Biotech Access: A Science Advances study spotlights low-cost, portable biotech tools and freeze-dried reagents that could help labs in lower-resource settings run diagnostics and local biomanufacturing. Agrosecurity: Colombia’s banana sector launches a public-private alliance to fight Fusarium TR4 with prevention, diagnostics, applied research, and solutions to protect jobs and exports. Finance & Stablecoins: MoneyGram rolls out MGUSD, a U.S. dollar stablecoin on Stellar, aiming for 24/7 digital USD access for its 60M+ customers. Space/Tech (Colombia-linked): Colombia’s UN Security Council leadership highlights how the country’s peace experience can inform global security efforts. Sports Tech: Roku launches a World Cup “Soccer Zone” to centralize match info and links across streaming partners, including availability in Colombia. Archaeology: Emeralds found in Panama’s ritual tombs are confirmed as Colombian, reshaping views of pre-colonial luxury trade networks.

Agro-Tech & Biosecurity: Colombia’s banana industry launched a public-private alliance to fight Fusarium TR4, bringing AUGURA, ASBAMA, CAF, and AGROSAVIA together on prevention, diagnostics, and applied research to protect exports and rural jobs. Connectivity for Remote Colombia: SES and TV ISLA will expand broadband on Providencia Island using a hybrid MEO+LEO satellite setup, aiming for 500 Mbps low-latency trunk capacity and fiber-to-the-home rollout for about 1,500 homes. Health Tech: C2N Diagnostics and SouthGenetics partnered to expand access to Precivity® blood tests for Alzheimer’s amyloid pathology across Latin America, including Colombia. Digital Payments: MoneyGram launched MGUSD, a self-custodial dollar stablecoin on Stellar, giving its 60M users 24/7 access to USD balances via the MoneyGram app. AI & Public Health Research: Google is seeking U.S. approval to release 32M mosquitoes in California and Florida as part of a Wolbachia-based dengue control effort. Agri-Exports & Jobs: TR4 isn’t the only bio story—banana and other horticulture sectors remain export engines, with Colombia’s banana push focused on keeping that advantage.

Colombia Election Tech & Security: Colombia’s presidential runoff is set for June 21 after hard-right outsider Abelardo de la Espriella beat leftist Sen. Iván Cepeda in the first round, with the campaign framing around tougher crime policy, ending talks with cocaine-trafficking rebels, and expanding social programs—setting up a high-stakes contest amid ongoing violence. Public Health Tech: Google is seeking U.S. federal approval for “Debug,” a plan to release up to 32 million sterile mosquitoes in California and Florida to curb disease-carrying Aedes aegypti. Rare Earths & Supply Chains: A new look at rare earths highlights that Colombia has deposits but still lags in scaling extraction for major buyers as China’s rare-earth leverage remains a global concern. Digital Infrastructure: Yuno named Edwin Poot as Chief Technology Officer, signaling continued expansion of its fintech platform and engineering push. Education & Language Tech: Korean language classes are set to enter Colombian public secondary schools for the first time this August, following a Korea-Bogotá agreement. AI in Sports: AI scouting apps are helping unlock football talent beyond traditional networks, with a Brazilian teen’s path into an Italian academy tied to such tools.

Education & Culture: Colombia will add Korean language classes to public secondary schools for the first time this summer, starting in August via a partnership between the Korean Embassy in Bogotá, the National University-linked Institute for Pedagogical Research and Action, and two local schools. Health & Environment: Colombia’s Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary renewed its IUCN Green List status, while Farasan Islands Reserve joined the program—highlighting a push for marine protected areas that are actually managed and monitored, not just protected on paper. Finance & Business: Grupo Aval shares jumped 13% to $5.22 as investors pointed to signs of economic stabilization and improving sentiment toward Colombia’s banking sector. Tech & Industry: Colombia tests satellite direct-to-device SOS messaging in rural areas, aiming to improve emergency response where connectivity is limited. Policy & Society: President Gustavo Petro rejected Colombia’s election pre-count, arguing software and voter lists were altered, and said only official scrutiny results should count. Sports Tech & Media: OPPO showcased football tech at the UEFA Champions League final, using telephoto camera hardware and AI imaging to capture match moments.