Economic sentiment in May climbs above long-term average after fifteen months

The economic sentiment indicator in May rose above the long-term average of 100 points in May, reflecting the improvement of business sentiment in Cyprus, as economic activity returns gradually to normality.

The Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) compiled by the University of Cyprus’ Economic Research Centre, in May rose by 7.6 units compared with the previous month reaching 104.1 units. The ESI returned above the long-term average of 100 units since March 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in Cyprus.

The ESI has been moving upward since March 2021 reflecting the favourable conditions for economic activity in the coming quarters, the ERC said.

The increase in the ESI was driven by improvements in business confidence in all sectors.

According to the ERC, the Services Confidence Indicator increased strongly for the thi

 

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Registrations of new businesses up by 0.3 in first quarter of 2021

In the first quarter of 2021, registrations of new businesses increased slightly, by 0.3%, compared with the previous quarter, according to Eurostat.

For declared bankruptcies, there was a 5.8% growth in the first quarter of 2021 compared with the fourth quarter of 2020.

Year-on-year comparisons show that the number of registrations of new businesses increased by 11.8% in the first quarter of 2021 compared with a year earlier, while the number of registered bankruptcies increased by 7.3%.

 

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Eurostat: One-fifth of employees born outside the EU were employed on a temporary contract in the EU in 2020

One-fifth (20.3%) of employees born outside the EU were employed on a temporary contract in the EU in 2020, compared with 13.8% for temporary employees born in a different EU Member State and 11.8% for native-born employees with a temporary job, according to data released today by Eurostat, the statistical service of the EU.

According to Eurostat, compared with 2019, the shares in 2020 were 1.5 percentage points (pp) lower for temporary employees born outside the EU, 1.4 pp lower for employees born in another EU Member State and 1.2 pp lower for native-born employees.

Across the EU Member States for which the results are available, in 2020 the highest share of employees born outside the EU employed on temporary contracts was recorded in Poland (40.6%), followed by Cyprus (35.8%), Spain (35.1%), Portugal (26.8%) and Sweden (25.2%). By contrast, the lowest sha

 

Source: Cyprus News Agency

EU exported close to 5.2 million cars in 2020, trade in electric and hybrid electric cars on the rise

In 2020, the European Union (EU) exported close to 5.2 million cars (petrol, diesel, electric and hybrid electric cars), while 3.0 million cars were imported, according to data released today by Eurostat, the statistical service of the EU. According to Eurostat, the trade in electric and hybrid electric cars was on the rise this year.

Petrol cars accounted for the majority of exported cars (64% of extra-EU car exports), followed by diesel cars (22%) and electric & hybrid electric cars (14%). In terms of imports, petrol cars accounted for over a half of extra-EU car imports (53%), followed by electric and hybrid electric cars (30%) and diesel cars (18%).

When looking at the 725 thousand exported electric cars and hybrid electric cars in detail: almost half of them were non-plug-in hybrid (49%), while around a quarter each were electric (27%) or plug-in hybrid

 

Source: Cyprus News Agency

FM travels to Lisbon for GYMNICH

Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides travels to Lisbon Wednesday to attend the Gymnich, the Informal meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers which begins tonight and will continue on Thursday.

The Ministers will discuss the EU-Africa relations, the ongoing crises in the Eastern Partnership countries and EU`s strategy as regards the region of the Indo-Pacific.

The EU Ministers will attend a working lunch organized by the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Cooperation between US and Republic of Cyprus is at a historic high, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs says

The United States views the Republic of Cyprus (ROC) as an important partner for regional stability, security, and prosperity, and works closely with the ROC to advance shared security priorities in the Eastern Mediterranean region, a fact sheet of the US State Department Bureau of Political-Military Affairs says, adding that cooperation between the United States and the ROC is at a historic high.

It notes that in late 2018 the United States and the ROC signed a Statement of Intent on bilateral security cooperation. In December 2019, the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of 2019 was signed into law with strong bipartisan support, highlighting the United States’ security interests in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

 

Source: Cyprus News Agency