Colombia’s Santa Marta City has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with global solution providers Gorilla Technology Group, Inc., NC Digy Smart Cities, and AECOM to become an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered smart city, advancing Latin America’s urban innovation.
Coordinated by CAF, the Development Bank of Latin America, and its executive director, Sergio Diaz-Granados Guida, the MoU signing was attended by Santa Marta’s Mayor, British government representatives, and industry leaders, highlighting the unified commitment to leveraging AI for establishing the urban future and accelerating economic growth.
Jay Chandan, Gorilla Technology’s Chairman and CEO, noted, “The transformation of Santa Marta marks the first phase of a four-phase initiative that will revolutionize smart cities across Latin America. This 20-year contract allows us to build an end-to-end smart city, integrating AI into security, mobility, environmental monitoring, and more. It’s a scalable model for other cities in the region.”
Chandan emphasized the company’s active engagement with over 20 cities across the United States and Latin America to establish smarter and more connected urban environments.
Advancing Colombia’s Digital Economy
With the discovery of the largest gas reserve in Colombian history, Chandan discussed the forthcoming economic growth driven by the energy boom and Santa Marta’s smart city transformation.
“As part of this initiative, we will also be bringing smart and green data centers to Colombia, supporting the digital transformation of the region while ensuring sustainability and energy efficiency,” Chandan noted.
The collaboration represents the first step in a long-term strategy to introduce AI-powered smart solutions to cities across Colombia and Latin America.
Jaime Andres Niño Tarazona, Senior Vice President, LATAM Subregion at AECOM, spoke on the significance of the project, stating, “The Santa Marta smart city initiative is not just a project; it is a catalyst for regional change. By demonstrating the power of AI and the Internet of Things (IoT) to transform urban spaces, Santa Marta will serve as a model for future smart city projects across the region.”
Driving an AI-Driven City
The initiative will integrate various AI-driven solutions into every layer of Santa Marta’s infrastructure, enhancing safety, connectivity, and operational efficiency.
The city will incorporate smart lighting with environmental sensors, cybersecure communication nodes, interactive AI kiosks, smart mobility and parking systems, AI video analytics for public safety, and environmental monitoring systems.
Robert Rodriguez, Chairman and Co-founder of NC Digy Smart Cities, emphasized Gorilla Technology’s expertise in AI-driven cybersecurity and video analytics to ensure a resilient and future-proof smart city infrastructure. He stated, “This collaboration, supported by the British and American governments, underscores the importance of international partnerships in delivering scalable and secure solutions for urban challenges.”
This strategic move demonstrates the power of AI to accelerate innovation, drive economic growth, and establish a sustainable environment for cities in the Latin American region.