Colombia’s Antioquia department has the strongest economy in the country, according to the latest report released Friday from the National Business Association of Colombia (ANDI).
The president of ANDI, Luis Carlos Villegas, announced that Antioquia’s economic contribution to Colombia far exceeds its relative population.
“Antioquia presents much larger dynamics than its own demographic or geographic size.” Villegas added
According the Villegas, Antioquia is responsible for 32% of the country’s exports. “Imports rose in this region, but the exports excel because one of every three dollars that comes into this country has been generated here [in Antioquia],” he said.
Antioquia’s mining industry has been booming, which is probably a the largest contribution to the department’s growing economy. It’s main exports are textiles and flowers.
The report also found that residents of Antioquia make up 22% of the employed population in Colombia, despite the department only holding 13% of the country’s people.
While Colombia’s industrial production grew at 6.3%, the report indicated that Antioquia’s production nearly doubled the country’s at a rate of 11.8%. Very few economies grow at such a rapid rate.
“These increases in Antioquia are behaviors that are at the highest levels, not only in Colombia, but in the world.”
Antioquia is Colombia’s second largest department by population and located in the center of the country.