Month: September 2021

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Deputy Minister for Shipping praises seafarers as the unsung heroes of world trade

The World Shipping Day constitutes an opportunity to show appreciation to Seafarers, the unsung heroes who contribute to the smooth functioning of world trade, Deputy Minister for Shipping Vassilis Demetriades has said on the occasion of the World Shipping Day 2021, dedicated to Seafarers.

The International Maritime Organisation dedicated the 2021 World Shipping Day to the seafarers under the title “Seafarers: at the core of the shipping’s future.”

In his message, Demetriades noted that Cyprus has proved its sensitivity with promoting crew changes and vaccination of seafarers in the midst of the Covid pandemic, stating our obligation is to highlight the importance of the seafarer’s profession through targeted actions.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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Revenue from tourism increased significantly in July

Revenue from tourism reached €245.7 mn in July 2021 compared to €42.5 mn in July 2020, recording an increase of 478.1%, on the basis of the results of the Passenger Survey carried out by the Statistical Service of Cyprus

As compared to the revenue from tourism for July 2019 (€422.0 mn), there was a decrease of 41.8%.

Compared to June 2021 when revenues amounted to € 135.8, an increase of 81% was recorded.

For the period of January – July 2021, revenue from tourism is estimated at €504.5 mn compared to €164.5 mn in the corresponding period of 2020, recording an increase of 206.7% and a decrease of 64,6% compared to January-July 2019 (€1,425.2 mn).

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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NPLs decrease by €142 million in Q2, NPLs to total loans ratio down to 17.6%

Non-performing loans (NPLs) decreased by €142 million or 2.8% in aggregate at the end of June 2021, compared with the end of March 2021, the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC) said Thursday.

“Total loans decreased by €242 million or 0.8% from €28.633 million at end-March 2021 to €28.391 million at the end of June 2021. As a result, a decrease in the ratio of NPLs to total loans was recorded from 17.9% at end-March 2021 to 17.6% at the end of June 2021”, said the Central Bank.

The coverage ratio stood at 46.8% at the end of June 2021 compared with 47.2% at the end of March 2021, it added.

The CBC noted that between 31.12.2014 and 30.06.2021, there has been an overall reduction in NPLs of €22,3 billion or 81.8%.

“The downward trend in NPLs exhibited in the second quarter of 2021 can be attributed, by order of significance

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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Industrial Output prices up 11.2% in August

The Index of Industrial Output Prices for August 2021 recorded an annual increase of 11.2%, according to a press release by the Statistical Service of Cyprus.

The Index of Industrial Output Prices for August 2021 reached 110.0 units (base 2015=100), recording an increase of 0.2% compared to July 2021. Compared to the corresponding month of the previous year, the index recorded an increase of 11.2%. For the period January-August 2021, the index showed an increase of 3.6% compared to the corresponding period of 2020.

In August 2021 compared to July 2021, the index remained stable in the sectors of mining and quarrying and electricity supply, while it showed a rise in the sectors of water supply and materials recovery by 0.3% and of manufacturing by 0.2%.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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Industrial production accelerates by 9.3% in January – July 2021

Industrial production accelerated by 9.3% for the period of January – July 2021, reflecting increased industrial activity compared with the respective period of 2020, which has been hampered by strict measures aiming to contain the spread of the Covid pandemic.

According to data released by the Statistical Service of Cyprus (Cystat), industrial activity for January – July 2021 was pushed mainly by manufacturing of electronic, optical products and electrical equipment which rose by an annual 40.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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Cyprus reports 123 new Covid cases on Wednesday, no fatalities, 81 patients in hospitals

Cyprus reports 123 new Covid cases on Wednesday, no fatalities, 81 patients in hospitals

Cyprus health authorities reported 123 new covid cases on Wednesday, bringing the total of covid infections since the outbreak of the pandemic to 120,143.

No fatalities were recorded today, with total deaths from Covid at 552, of which 350 (63%) men and 202 (37%) women.

Furthermore, 81 patients are treated in hospitals of which 35 are in serious condition. Of the 35 patients in serious condition, 14 are intubated, 3 are treaded in ICU and 18 are treated in ACU. According to the press release, 67.86% of the patients are not vaccinated.

The Ministry of Health said in a press release that a total of 46,347 tests were carried out with the daily positivity rate at 0.27%

The 123 new cases were detected following 46,347 tests of which 4.773 were PCR and 41.574 rapid antigen tests.

According to the Ministry, 17 cases

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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The defence deal signed between Greece and France is a positive development, Nicosia says

Cyprus has described the bilateral defence deal signed between Greece and France as a positive development.

Replying to a question by CNA, Government Spokesman, Marios Pelekanos, said that this deal is a positive development as Greece`s defence capabilities are being reinforced in case the country faces an attack. “This is a positive step for the defence capabilities of Greece,” he added.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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We expect the implementation of what was agreed at New York meeting, Government Spokesman tells CNA

Nicosia expects that the agreement that was reached during the lunch which the UN Secretary – General, Antonio Guterres, hosted on Monday, in New York, for Cyprus President, Nicos Anastasiades, and Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar, for the appointment of a special envoy on Cyprus by the UNSG will be implemented, Cyprus Government Spokesman, Marios Pelekanos, has told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA).

Pelekanos said that the UNSG had said during the lunch that he would appoint a special envoy and explained the reasons why a special envoy should be appointed that have to do with the fact that the UN Security Council has to have a say on the issues discussed before it.

The Spokesman said that even though Tatar raised at the beginning objections as regards the appointment of a special envoy, he finally accepted the appointment during the discussion that took pl

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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US ambassador nominee commits to speak out against Turkey’s violations in Cyprus

Nominee to become US ambassador to Turkey Jeff Flake has committed to speak out both publicly and privately against Turkey’s UN violations in Cyprus.

Flake was replying to a question by President of the US Senate Committee of Foreign Relations, Bob Menendez during a Committee hearing on ambassador nominees.

“More than 35,000 Turkish troops remain in northern Cyprus, now almost five decades after Turkey first invaded in 1974,” Menendez said.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

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Nicosia expects UNSG’s readout after Monday’s meeting in New York, Spokesman tells CNA

Nicosia expects the UN Secretary General`s readout about the informal meeting among Antonio Guterres, Cyprus President, Nicos Anastasiades, and Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar, that took place on Monday, in New York.

Invited by CNA to comment on the fact that no readout has been issued yet, even though this was expected on Tuesday, according to what the UNSG`s spokesperson has said, Cyprus Government Spokesman, Marios Pelekanos, said that “the information that we have is that the UNSG is looking into everything that was discussed during the lunch (in New York) and will issue a readout.”

Pelekanos also noted that “we reiterated (in New York) our positive response to the UNSG`s proposal for the appointment of a special envoy, as we had expressed it from the beginning during the Informal Meeting in Geneva,” last April.

Source: Cyprus News Agency