Words of the President
Dear TCI friends,
El tiempo pasa volando, time flies. Soon it will be the time again to celebrate another important TCI gathering, 5CLAC - 5th Latin American Cluster Conference held in Medellin, Colombia. This event and the considerable expectations it is generating at the local level and within the entire Latin American cluster community proves not only the growing interest towards clusters in this part of the world, but also shows that cluster initiatives can be successfully developed on multiple levels and by different promoters working with the same objective: improving long-term competitiveness.
Medellin and Colombia aren't certainly newcomers in the cluster community. In fact, the first time I heard about cluster-based initiatives in Colombia was in late 1990s, thanks to a very interesting book, Plowing the Sea by Michael Fairbanks and Stace Linday. Captivating tales of cut flowers and other natural resource-based industries probably represent the first step towards recognizing clusters as a strategic tool for fostering economic development in Latin America, Colombia and Medellin.
The city of Medellin has a ten-year long experience of working with clusters. Initially, clustering efforts were headed by the private sector with the support of the Medellin Chamber of Commerce. However, since 2004 Medellin City Hall and the Chamber of Commerce have joined forces to boost cluster policy under a triple-helix model with the cooperation of multiple entrepreneurs and regional institutions. This has resulted in the creation of public policies designed to improve competitiveness and foster collaboration between the private and public sector.
Clusters have therefore contributed in some extent to the economic and social transformation of the city that now is ranked as the 15th best city for doing business in Latin America in 2010 according to the well-know Latin American business magazine America Economia. It is the highest position achieved by the city since it first entered ranking list in 2006.
Nowadays, the Medellin and Antioquia Cluster Community gathers the most strategic economic activities in the region in five clusters: Electrical Energy, Textile-Clothing, Construction, Business Tourism and Health.
Consequently, "cluster way", a model of regional development built around basic common-sense concepts, like inclusion, proximity, learning by doing, horizontal cooperation and innovation, has given its little contribution to one of the most significant cases of socio-economic transformation at urban level in Latin America. Clusters have become so important in the local economic development that they are also present in the city's slogan Medellin ciudad cluster - Medellin, the cluster city.
5CLAC will certainly give us the opportunity to discuss these concepts. I hope to welcome you soon to this stimulating venue and have, once more, an opportunity to work together and share our common practices.
Alberto Pezzi
TCI President
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