As the base for one of the world's most feared drug cartels, Medellin, the second largest city in Columbia, was once dubbed "the most dangerous city on earth." Now, it's well on its way to becoming the Silicon Valley of Latin America.

Tech incubator Ruta N in Medellin is connecting Colombian startups with investors from around the world. Ruta N has invited companies from around the world to open offices in Medellin. So far, around 320 companies from more than 30 countries have come to the city, creating more than 8,000 jobs in the area since 2012.

One of the main goals of Ruta N is to further explore the economic link between China and Latin America.

"If you don't know you will be afraid, and if you are afraid then you won't do it. So, we are structuring a program especially for Medellin and Colombian companies that want to explore the Chinese market in some expert's hands, so that they don't do it alone," said Sin Kit I from the Centre of Business and Innovation of Ruta N.

As China-based companies, such as Huawei, Tuya Smart and Didi, grow their businesses in Colombia, Ruta N hopes Medellin's appeal as a tech hub will catch on. 

"Latin America itself is virgin for many Chinese technological companies. There are so many things to do here that Colombian business people cannot do alone, or the industry or the government. That is why we need to have this base exchange," adds Sin Kit. 

In 2019, President Ivan Duque boosted that effort. He announced Medellin would become the first Spanish-speaking country to host an affiliate center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Network.

The network is an idea conceived by the World Economic Forum. Participants hope to foster collaboration and develop policies to accelerate the benefits of science and technology.

Medellin will join a network of tech hubs in Beijing, Tokyo and Mumbai. Sin Kit I said, "It is a network, we learn from each other. We do benchmark and we have exchange of our public policy. It isn't just that we invent something, but learn from each other.”

And Colombia is looking to increase exchanges with nations like China. During Colombian President Ivan Duque's visit to China in his first year in office, 15 agreements were signed between the two countries, one of which included the promotion of technology and entrepreneurship between the two.

"I think Colombia has a lot to learn from China, and obviously the other way around, because if there is no mutual understanding, we don't know each other and there is no action. So, this kind of exchange in terms of technology and innovation... What do you have? What do we have? It is a first step," added Sin Kit.