Video game development studio Blind Squirrel Games, behind titles like Bioshock The Collection, Mass Effect Legendary Edition, and the upcoming original studio game Cosmorons, has announced that with the takeover of Manizales-based Distributed Development, it is launching Blind Squirrel Games Colombia, a new service-based studio. The new hub expands Blind Squirrel Games’ global footprint, including teams in California, Texas, and New Zealand, enabling the studio to fulfill a business goal of providing cost-effective game development services.

“Blind Squirrel Games Colombia marks an important milestone for our studio as we celebrate our 15th anniversary,” said Blind Squirrel Games CEO and Founder Brad Hendricks. “We’ve grown into a worldwide network of development excellence, increasing not just our capacity, but our creative POV and technical capabilities to provide incredible value to our partners. With Blind Squirrel Games Colombia working hand-in-hand with our other teams, we can now deliver unmatched efficiency in addition to market-leading innovation for all of our projects.”

Formerly operating as Distributed Development (known for its software development expertise with clients such as Microsoft), Blind Squirrel Games Colombia will continue to be overseen by its previous studio head, Eric Herrera, who takes on the role of Studio Director. Based in the fast-growing video game development community of Manizales, Colombia, Blind Squirrel Games Colombia looks to expand significantly in 2025 to 25–30 employees in a new location within the city.

“We’ve had the pleasure of working closely with Blind Squirrel Games over the past year on the multiplayer co-development for the PlaySide Studios title, Age of Darkness: Final Stand, and other projects to explore a potential partnership,” said Blind Squirrel Games Colombia Studio Director Eric Herrera. “As our teams easily collaborated, it became clear that formally joining forces would be mutually beneficial. Beyond our studio initiatives, we also look forward to playing a central role in nurturing and growing talent in the region.”

“Under Eric’s indelible leadership, his team has produced amazing work and custom-built technology,” added Hendricks. “We’re excited to push the boundaries of what we’re able to create together.”

Specializing in engineering innovation, Blind Squirrel Games Colombia has pioneered an Unreal Engine-based AI tool that’s being implemented globally across the studio’s systems. The proprietary tool aims to optimize project output efficiencies, including reducing port completion times.

Blind Squirrel’s original studio game Cosmorons. Photo credit: Blind Squirrel Games.

In 2024, Colombia’s non-mining energy exports reached $21.999 billion USD, marking a 7.7% real-term increase from 2023, according to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism. These exports accounted for 44.4% of the country’s total goods sold internationally that year. The volume of exported goods also rose, totaling 9.2 million tons—a growth of 8.4% compared to the previous year.

Several products contributed to this uptick. In the industrial sector, electric transformers saw a 61.5% increase in exports. Insecticides experienced a 7.1% rise, beauty preparations grew by 17.6%, and chloride polymer exports went up by 9.1%. Agricultural products also played a significant role. Coffee exports increased by 18.4%, flowers by 9.9%, and bananas by 30.4%. Additionally, exports of pineapples, avocados, guavas, and mangos collectively grew by 46.3%.

Regionally, eight of the top ten non-mining export areas reported positive results. Bogotá’s exports increased by 10.3%, Antioquia by 6.9%, Cundinamarca by 9.8%, Bolívar by 7.8%, Caldas by 6.4%, Huila by 33.4%, Risaralda by 50.6%, and Magdalena by 12.9%.

The Ministry attributes these gains to government policies aimed at diversifying and enhancing the value of Colombia’s export offerings. Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism, Luis Carlos Reyes Hernández, stated that the focus is on positioning Colombian products with added value in various markets, emphasizing the promotion of exports.

These figures underscore Colombia’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its non-mining export sectors and reduce reliance on traditional commodities.

Headline Image: Coffee from Colombia. Photo credit: Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism (MinCIT)

The La Dorada-Chiriguaná railway project, Colombia’s inaugural Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in the rail sector, has attracted bids from three consortia, as announced by the National Infrastructure Agency (ANI) on February 7, 2025, the project, comprehensively structured by the National Development Finance Company (FDN) with assistance from Deloitte Colombia, Durán y Osorio, and Gómez Cajiao – Setec, and supervised by IDOM, entails an investment exceeding 3.4 trillion Colombian pesos.

The 10-year concession includes the replacement of 205.5 kilometers of rail from 75 lb/yd to 115 lb/yd, upgrades to sleepers, ballast improvements, refurbishment of rolling stock, construction of an administrative building, an Operations Control Center, two train maintenance workshops, and a Cargo Transfer Center. Additionally, it involves implementing advanced signaling, communication, and train control systems, as well as the operation and maintenance of the infrastructure and freight transport services using rolling stock allocated by the nation.

ANI plans to evaluate the proposals and bidders over the next two months, with the contract award anticipated in April 2025.

Headline Image: The La Dorada-Chiriguaná railway project. Photo credit: National Infrastructure Agency (ANI).

Frontera Energy Corporation, a Canadian oil and gas company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol FEC, has announced preliminary results of its substantial issuer bid, which concluded on January 24, 2025. The company offered to repurchase up to $42 million CAD of its common shares for $12.00 CAD per share.

According to initial calculations by Computershare Investor Services Inc., the depositary for the offer, approximately 73.18 million shares were validly tendered and not withdrawn, leading to an oversubscription. Consequently, Frontera expects to repurchase 3.5 million shares, representing about 4.33% of its outstanding shares as of January 23, 2025. Shareholders who tendered their shares will have approximately 4.78% of their tendered shares purchased by the company. Following the cancellation of these shares, Frontera anticipates having approximately 77.29 million shares issued and outstanding.

The final number of shares to be purchased, and the exact proration factor, are subject to verification by the depositary. Frontera plans to issue a press release detailing the final results upon completing this process. The terms will make payment for the shares accepted for purchase of the offer and applicable law, while shares tendered but not purchased will be returned to shareholders.

The terms and conditions of the offer are outlined in the offer to purchase and issuer bid circular dated December 19, 2024, available on SEDAR+. Frontera also intends to recommence purchases of shares under a new normal course issuer bid following the announcement of its fourth-quarter and year-end results.

Frontera Energy Corporation operates in the exploration, development, production, transportation, storage, and sale of oil and natural gas in South America, with interests in 22 exploration and production blocks in Colombia, Ecuador, and Guyana, as well as pipeline and port facilities in Colombia.

Headline Image: Frontera Energy’s oil operations in Quifa, Colombia. Photo Credit: Frontera Energy.

In a recent cabinet meeting broadcast live on national television, Colombian President Gustavo Petro provoked derision by asserting that cocaine is “no worse than whiskey” and attributing its illegal status to its production in Latin America. He suggested that global legalization of cocaine could dismantle the illicit drug trade, proposing it be sold similarly to wine. Petro emphasized that revenues from such sales could fund prevention programs aimed at reducing youth consumption.

🇨🇴 | Presidente colombiano Gustavo Petro:

“La cocaína es ilegal porque se fabrica en América Latina, no porque sea peor que el whisky”.
pic.twitter.com/wrL0oswxKJ

— Alerta News 24 (@AlertaNews24) February 5, 2025

These statements align with Petro’s longstanding criticism of the US-led war on drugs, which he deems ineffective. He has previously advocated for rethinking drug policies, emphasizing treatment and prevention over militarized approaches. In a 2024 address to the United Nations, Petro called for removing the coca leaf and cannabis from prohibitive regulations, citing the rise of synthetic drugs like fentanyl as a more pressing concern. 

Gustavo Petro: “Cocaine is illegal because it is made in Latin America, not because it is worse than whiskey.”

Analysis

“Cocaine is illegal because it is made in Latin America, not because it is worse than whiskey,” said the president, a former leftist M-19 guerilla. The statement, saying that it is illegal because it is made in Latin America is nonsensical, because so many other products are made in Latin America and not illegal—rum, cachaça, Colombian aguardiente, Mexican tequila, pisco, wines from Chile, México and Argentina, etc. With the United States as Colombia’s largest import customer, “because it’s made in Latin America” proves incoherent.

Petro suggested selling the deadly poison freely: “The business could be easily dismantled if cocaine were legalized worldwide. It would sell like wine,” he said, suggesting that the resources generated could be allocated to prevention programs to avoid consumption by minors. Oblivious to the fact that making the drug, which hijacks the brain’s dopamine neuroreceptor system, would lead to thousands, if not millions of additional deaths.

Click on the screen above for the entire video of the polemic cabinet meeting. [Spanish]

Context

The discussion occurs amid escalating tensions between Colombia and the United States regarding drug policy. The US has historically advocated for strict drug prohibition and has pressured Colombia to maintain aggressive anti-narcotics measures. Petro’s administration has shifted focus from forced eradication of coca crops, promising voluntary substitution and rural development programs, aiming to address the root causes of illicit cultivation.

However, many former combatants who signed Colombia’s historic 2016 peace agreement have taken to the streets this month to protest the governments failure to deliver on those development programs and other social commitments. The narco-insurgent groups that these former combatants belonged to were in most cases, integral members of the narcotics supply chain.

Petro promised “Total Peace”  when elected, though during his administration, Colombia’s security—especially in rural areas and remote towns, has worsened.  The narco-insurgent groups like the ELN and dissident remnants of the former FARC currently battling in the Catatumbo region of the Norte de Santander department have made a mockery of the president’s peace promises. These very groups are fighting over a key area known for coca production, coca being the bush that produces the leaves later processed into cocaine.

Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, with production reaching record levels during the Petro administration. The debate over legalization touches on issues of public health, international relations, and the effectiveness of longstanding drug policies. As discussions continue, the Colombian government faces the challenge of balancing domestic priorities with international expectations.

On Sunday, February 9, President Gustavo Petro requested the official resignation of all his ministers and directors of administrative departments through a post on his X/Twitter account.

“I have requested the protocolary resignation of ministers and directors of administrative departments. There will be some changes in the cabinet to ensure greater compliance with the program mandated by the people,” wrote the president.

This request follows the tensions caused by a televised cabinet meeting on February 4, which exposed internal disagreements among government officials and particular discomfort with the involvement in the government of Laura Sarabia, a key figure in Petro’s team and recently appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as the newly appointed Chief of Staff, Armando Benedetti.

Following this event, several ministers and officials submitted their resignation letter before Petro made his official request on February 9, including Gloria Inés Ramírez, Minister of Labor; Juan David Correa, Minister of Culture; and Juan Fernando Cristo, Minister of the Interior. In his resignation letter, Cristo thanked Petro for the opportunity to be part of the government and emphasized the need to prioritize key commitments in the remaining 18 months of the administration.

Jorge Rojas, Director of the Presidential Administrative Department (DAPRE), and Susana Muhamad, Minister of Environment, also resigned. In an interview with El Tiempo, Muhamad stated that her resignation was motivated by Armando Benedetti’s appointment as Chief of Staff. She expressed concerns about his political representation and the trust needed for governance, saying, “He does not inspire confidence in me, personally, both in terms of political representation and in the trust necessary to govern within the Council of Ministers.”

After Petro’s February 9 announcement, additional officials submitted their protocolary resignations. Carlos Carrillo, Director of the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) announced his resignation via X/Twitter, motivating their colleagues to also proceed: “I believe that the entire cabinet and high-ranking government officials should submit their resignations without delay.”

In a post via Twitter/X Laura Sarabia confirmed her resignation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, position she held for just a few days: “With the purpose of allowing the president to make the decisions he deems most appropriate, I submit my protocolary resignation, ” she pointed.

Among the officials that have also resigned are: Andrés Camacho, Minister of Mine; Ángela María Buitrago, Minister of Justice; Martha Carvajalino, Minister of Agriculture; and Daniel Rojas Medellín, Minister of Education.

Headline photo: Image from the televised cabinet meeting on February 4 (Photo: Presidencia de la República)

Avianca has filed a civil lawsuit seeking over $90,000 in damages against two passengers whose disruptive behavior aboard flight AV249 from Bogotá to São Paulo on July 17, 2024, led to significant operational disruptions. The incident damaged the aircraft and necessitated an unscheduled return to Bogotá.

During the flight, a dispute between two passengers escalated, causing damage to an electronic device on the aircraft. Following established safety protocols, the crew managed the situation, but the aircraft returned to Bogotá to address the damages. This event affected over 150 passengers’ travel plans and led to substantial repair costs for the airline.

In response to the incident, Avianca has pursued legal action against the individuals involved, seeking compensation exceeding $90,000 to cover the damages incurred. This move underscores the airline’s commitment to holding passengers accountable for actions that compromise flight safety and operations.

Captain Juan Esteban Kappaz, Avianca’s Director of Flight Operations, emphasized the airline’s stance:

“The safety of our passengers and crew is our top priority. Incidents of this nature are unacceptable. We are taking all necessary legal measures to hold the responsible parties accountable and ensure appropriate consequences for such actions. We urge relevant authorities to strengthen sanctions against disruptive passengers whose behavior affects others on board.”

Avianca reported 402 cases of disruptive passengers in 2024, marking a 16% increase from 2023, which had 347 cases, and a 118% rise compared to 2022. These statistics highlight a concerning trend in passenger conduct. The airline has consistently advocated for enhanced regulations to deter disruptive behavior. Proposed measures include imposing stricter sanctions and potentially prohibiting or suspending travel privileges for individuals exhibiting such conduct.

Avianca takes a firm stance against verbal or physical violence on its flights. The airline is committed to pursuing all available legal avenues to address and prevent disruptive behavior, ensuring the safety and well-being of its passengers and crew.

Cartagena, Colombia, has reported a substantial increase in dengue cases during the initial weeks of 2025. According to the District Department of Health (DADIS), as of the fourth epidemiological week, there have been 1,778 reported cases, marking a 692% rise compared to the same period in 2024, which had 220 cases.

Of the current cases, 75.2% are classified as dengue without warning signs, while 23.9% exhibit more severe symptoms. Additionally, 16 individuals have been diagnosed with severe dengue. The most affected age groups are children aged 10 to 14 and adolescents aged 15 to 19. Notably, nearly half of the cases are concentrated in neighborhoods such as Olaya Herrera, El Pozón, Ciudad Bicentenario, Nelson Mandela, and San José de los Campanos.

In severe cases, dengue can be fatal.

In response to the surge, DADIS has intensified fumigation efforts in high-incidence areas. Interventions have been conducted in 88,156 residences, covering approximately 40% of Cartagena’s population. These efforts are complemented by educational campaigns, reaching over 52,000 households and impacting 158,358 individuals. Residents are encouraged to maintain clean homes, eliminate standing water, and remove potential mosquito breeding sites.

DADIS Director Rafael Navarro España emphasized the city’s endemic status regarding dengue, highlighting the importance of ongoing interventions to prevent case complications. He stated, “We are in an endemic period. Cartagena is an endemic city, which means we will always have disease incidence and mosquitoes. Therefore, we must always try to intervene to prevent cases from becoming complicated.”

Concurrently, DADIS is formulating a comprehensive plan to mitigate dengue’s impact throughout 2025. In 2024, the “Que el dengue no se convierta en un dolor de cabeza” (“Don’t Let Dengue Become a Headache”) strategy led to preventive actions in 52,656 homes, affecting 187,538 individuals across the city’s three localities. Chemical control measures also targeted 88,156 residences, benefiting 354,084 community members.

Health authorities are currently investigating three potential dengue-related fatalities in Cartagena. The Pan American Health Organization has issued a regional alert due to the rising number of dengue cases, noting that Colombia, along with Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina, accounted for 90% of cases in 2024. According to the World Health Organization, about half of the world’s population is now at risk of dengue, with an estimated 100–400 million infections occurring each year.

Residents and visitors are urged to remain vigilant, use mosquito repellent, remove possible mosquito breeding areas, and collaborate with health officials to control the mosquito population and reduce the disease’s spread.

Headline Image: Dengue Fever in the city of Cartagena. Photo credit: DADIS Cartagena.

Avianca has announced the appointment of Otto Gergye as its new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), effective January 2025. Gergye brings over two decades of experience in the tourism and aviation sectors, having held various leadership roles in strategic planning, business development, sales, and revenue optimization.

Throughout his career, Gergye has served in multiple capacities across global airlines. His previous positions include Director of Revenue at Thai Airways, Vice President of Consulting Services at Sabre, Sales and Commercial Manager for Asia at Qantas, and Chief Commercial Officer at Fiji Airways. Additionally, he has held commercial roles at Air Berlin, British Airways, Amadeus, and KLM. Gergye holds an MBA from the Open University Business School in the United Kingdom.

Avianca’s CEO, Frederico Pedreira, commented on the appointment, stating, “We are pleased to have Otto’s expertise and professional background to continue enhancing our commercial strategy, ensuring that our customers remain central to our products and services.”

Gergye expressed his perspective on joining Avianca, noting, “I am proud to join Avianca to strengthen the company’s strategy across various areas with a dedicated team, ensuring we fulfill our value proposition to all customers by offering options aligned with industry trends and tailored to their preferences.”

In his role as CCO, Gergye, along with his team, will focus on advancing Avianca’s growth, enhancing customer experience, and evolving contact channels to provide passengers with comprehensive control over their travel from start to finish.

Headline Image: Otto Gergye, Avianca Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). Photo credit: Avianca.

Whoever, in the Petro administration, thought it would be a good idea to televise live a cabinet meeting over several hours, is likely gone already. Chaos is the only word, with government members openly criticizing one another in front of a TV audience that must have been delighted at the quality of the entertainment.

Unfortunately, they were likely even more perturbed at what they were watching, amidst yet another cabinet reshuffle and an increasing lack of direction. The 2026 elections are now on the horizon and the political jockeying is under way.

Petro’s 18-month countdown to-do list is littered with impossible and improbable items. Top of that list is ‘Total Peace’ – as events in Catatumbo have demonstrated, it isn’t going to happen. Guerrillas to both the right and left (in fact, do they any longer have an ideology?) are shipping ever more cocaine and are willing to trade body bags to get their way.

In terms of the reform process, it was always going to be a big ask. He should always have stuck with a couple of items, education and the political system being the most important, and tried to hang his legacy on those. He attempted to reform everything and is going to badly underexecute.

The migrant dispute with the US has already passed, and personally, I think there is value to demanding dignity in the face of a bully, others think it was a step too far. That said, the whole of the Colombian economy needs to try and pivot away from the US market.

This week we saw export data from Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística – DANE Colombia for December. There was a 0.6% increase YoY for the month, but the 2024 total was down 0.5%. Commodities dragged whilst coffee and manufactured goods fared better.

Last week we saw January vehicle sales rise 24.3% and now ANDI – Asociación Nacional de Empresarios de Colombia and FENALCO are estimating a full-year increase of 9.4% to 220,000.

We will have January CPI with an expectation of another drop to 5.12% (from 5.20% in December) – this will be a move towards Fedesarrollo‘s YE estimate of 4.18%. Despite a somewhat chaotic picture locally, the Peso had a stable week ($4175) as the fears over a trade dispute with the US eased somewhat.

Have a great day.

Roops.

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Headline Image: Coffee farmer. Photo credit: HunterProducciones from Pixabay.