Day: June 14, 2022

The confirmed cases of Monkeypox in non-endemic countries has risen to 1,217 according to a World Health Organisation report issued between 13 May-8 June. No cases have been confirmed in Cyprus so far.

At the same time, the Cyprus Ministry of Health said, 1,536 suspected cases were reported in eight countries in the African region while 59 cases were confirmed and 72 deaths reported.

It further said that in Cyprus there has not been a confirmed case of monkeypox so far and the danger is described as moderate for persons with multiple sexual partners and low for the wider population.

According to epidemiological research, most cases have been detected through sexual health clinics or other health services in primary or secondary health care facilities and have a travel history to European and north America countries and not endemic countries where the virus is known to exist.

The majority of confirmed cases comes to 1,056 and is an 87%, percentage deriving from the WHO’’s European region.

According to the Ministry, as the situation unfolds, the WHO expects that there will be more monkeypox cases.

Currently, the likelihood of monkeypox spreading is higher in those who have multiple sexual partners in the EU/EEA.

Monkeypox virus can cause serious disease in certain population groups (young children, pregnant women, immunosuppressed individuals). However, the probability of developing cases with severe morbidity cannot yet be precisely estimated.

If there is a suspected case in Cyprus, the patient will be referred for specialised tests at the reference Hospital in Nicosia for adults and Makarios Hospital for children.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment Costas Kadis has said that the establishment of the School of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Nicosia constitutes a very significant development for the higher education in Cyprus.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday for the official launch of the first Veterinary program in Cyprus, Kadis said that Cyprus is now on the international map of veterinary medicine, a development that brings along a series of important benefits for the country.

“The establishment of the School is a very important development for the education field of our country, since it places Cyprus on the international map of veterinary education, with many benefits on the scientific, economic and social level,” he said.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Deputy Minister for Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Kyriacos Kokkinos, paid an official working visit to Saudi Arabia between 5-8 June focusing on expanding the cooperation between the two countries.

According to a Deputy Ministry press release, the Deputy Minister was also accompanied by a business mission co-organised by the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Cyprus – Saudi Arabia Business Association.

During his visit, Kokkinos held a private meeting with his counterpart, Minister of Information Technologies and Communications, Abdullah bin Amer Al-Sawaha and was received by the governors of the Digital Governance Authority of the National Cyber Security Authority and the Communications and Information Technologies Commission of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

He also visited the national research center King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology and met with the leadership of the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) and the company Arabsat, one of the top sattelite services companies in the world, which has invested millions in Cyprus through Hellas Sat.

The meetings focused on strengthening bilateral and regional cooperation in a wide range of areas, including digital governance, telecommunications and space, as well as the role that both countries can play in promoting the region as a hub of technology, science, innovation and data as well as addressing common challenges.

The press release says that in the coming months a Memorandum of Cooperation will be signed in the field of cyber security. In addition, it is noted that a joint aim is Cyprus’ accession to the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) which is an initiative of Saudi Arabia for international cooperation on digital economy and society.

Moreover, it adds, they agreed to promote cooperation in research and innovation and in particular in biogenetics, biomedicine and advanced technologies, such as space applications, artificial intelligence and blockchain, through a Memorandum, which will promote participation in joint research projects, exchange of expertise and know-how as well as exchange programs of representatives from the academic and research community.

The Deputy Minister also participated in a business forum held in Riyadh and in separate meetings with the leadership of the Chambers of Commerce and Business in Jeddah and Riyadh, where he outlined the strategic advantages of Cyprus as an international business center providing access to European and other developed markets.

He also referred to the government’s new strategy for attracting investments, highlighting the support that Cyprus provides to companies through the “Company Facility Unit” operating in the Ministry of Commerce, as well as on the strong commitment of the state to improve the business environment, through targeted reforms and incentives, such as the Digital Nomad Visa and the new Cyprus Startup Visa.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The issues affecting the agricultural products market in the EU member states due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine were the main issue of discussion during Monday’s meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Luxembourg.

According to a press release, Cyprus was represented by the Ministry of Agriculture Permanent Secretary Andreas Gregoriou.

Speaking during the discussion, Gregoriou called on the Commission to swiftly proceed with the adoption of a new measure for providing further funding to affected farmers through the Rural Development Fund, and noted that the effects of the war and of the increase in prices of fertilizers, feed and fuel have limited profit margins for producers.

Gregoriou made particular reference to the growing problems faced by primary sector enterprises in Cyprus regarding their sustainability. Cyprus also joined other member states in expressing the view that transporting grain by sea would speed up the effort to facilitate the export of grain from Ukraine.

Moreover, Cyprus supported Croatia’s request for support for farmers affected by extreme weather conditions.

During a discussion on the progress regarding the drafting of a regulation on geographical indications, Gregoriou supported the inclusion of an amendment allowing for the possibility of extending the 10-year transitional period of compliance with the geographical indications standards for another five years in exceptional cases.

Gregoriou explained that the objective of the amendment is to address problems that make it difficult to implement a geographical indication in a timely manner or to manage those cases where the approval of a geographical indication takes longer than usual to complete.

In the context of the exchange of views on the application of EU sanitary and environmental standards to imported agricultural and agri-food products, Gregoriou expressed Cyprus’ support for the transition to sustainable food systems.

He stressed, however, that the transition should be gradual, and in line with World Trade Organisation rules, as significant difficulties are expected in extending EU standards to third countries.

Gregoriou also added that the specificities recognised for third country farmers in terms of the production of their products and the pressures resulting from high European standards also apply to farmers in regions within the EU. He also pointed out that food security should be taken into account in the context of decision-making on trade issues, especially during difficult times.

The Ministers also exchanged views on the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy. Gregoriou underlined the importance of Regional Fisheries Management Organisations, and referred to the issue of the full implementation of the landing obligation, especially for mixed fisheries.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The Ministry of Defence in Cyprus is taking part in Eurosatory, a trade fair for land and airland Defence and Security exhibition, that takes place every two years.

Representing the Ministry is Permanent Secretary Andreas Loukas who has held a number of meetings with his counterparts on the sidelines of the exhibition and discussed defence cooperation issues, a Defence Ministry press release says.

The exhibition was created in 1967 and has never stopped evolving. Attendees’ number always increased, visitors as well as exhibitors, its website wrote. More than 1,800 exhibitors are taking part in the event which will wrap up on 17th June.

Loukas also visited the Cyprus Pavilion and was informed by Cyprus research and development companies on their capabilities and products in the fields of defence and security, it concludes.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The Cyprus Composite Leading Economic Index (CCLEI) turned negative in May, following annual increases of the previous months, reflecting the uncertainty driven by the war in Ukraine.

The CCLI compiled by the University of Cyprus’ Economic Research Centre (ERC) with the support of Hellenic Bank, in May dropped by an annual 0.1% in May 2022, reaching a level of 102.2, after year-over-year increases of 1.6% in April and 4.4% in March 2022, based on recent and revised data.

“The fall of the CCLEI in May is attributed to the difficult and fluid geopolitical and economic environment due to the Russo-Ukrainian war, sanctions against Russia, and high energy costs. In particular, the international Brent Crude oil price jumped to its historically highest level in May 2022, surpassing the corresponding prices of the oil crises of the 1970s,” the ERC said.

The negative year-on-year growth rate of the CCLEI is also due to contribution of the Economic Sentiment Indicators (ESI) in the euro area and in Cyprus, which deteriorated in May 2022, amid deteriorating business confidence, and in particular, consumer confidence.

In contrast, the growth in most of the CCLEI’s domestic components has mitigated the annual drop of the index. Specifically, the growth rate of total property sales contracts, the value of credit card transactions, tourists’ arrivals, the temperature-adjusted volume of electricity production as well as the growth rate of retail sales volume, according to preliminary data, have accelerated.

“Although the Cypriot economy rebounded significantly after the strong shock caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the negative year-over-year growth rate of the CCLEI in May 2022 reflects the extremely uncertain geopolitical and economic environment affecting its short-term economic growth prospects, but also the short-term economic growth prospects of the global economy,” the ERC said.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

President of the House of Representatives Annita Demetriou stressed the need to evaluate and readapt strategies implemented in the past, to meet the challenges of the future, especially in the fields of energy, food security and climate change.

She was addressing the 15th Conference of Presidents of Parliaments of Small European States, hosted by the country’s Parliament, between 12 and 14 June 2022 held in Monaco.

In her speech, she said Cyprus is faced with additional obstacles in handling the challenges presented due to the repercussions of the continued occupation of part of the island’s territory by Turkey and the continued Turkish provocations and violations against the Republic of Cyprus.

Demetriou also stressed the need for cooperation and developing synergies both between the private and public sectors as well as between neighbouring states and especially the cooperation between small European states. This, she said, will help exchange practices and address challenges in relation to the particularities of these states.

The flexibility which describes the economies of small states allows them to adapt and easily diversify, something which is very significant in times of crisis, she added.

Cyprus, she added, has experienced important social and economic consequences, resulting from the Turkish invasion and ongoing occupation. However, it has managed to regroup due to its targeted policies, hardworking, trained human resource and the private sector’s potential.

She said parliaments have a significant role to play in difficult times in history and that synergies and cooperation can be achieved only through economic viability and stability.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied the island’s northern third.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Suzano, the world’s largest hardwood pulp producer and a global reference in developing sustainable and innovative solutions from renewable sources, today announces the launch of Suzano Ventures, a global corporate venture capital initiative.

Suzano Ventures will invest US$70 million in a range of businesses with the potential to revolutionize their sector and beyond, by addressing some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. The initiative will focus on companies operating within at least one of four bioeconomy applications: improving the measurement and management of carbon sequestration, accelerating and maximizing agroforestry yield, developing new technologies and applications for pulp biomass, and creating more efficient pulp packaging from renewable sources.

All investments will be aligned with Suzano’s ethos of ‘innovability’, the pursuit of sustainable solutions through innovation, which is at the core of all of Suzano’s operations. Investments will be made in businesses at both Seed and Series A funding stages. Suzano Ventures will also have a structure of acceleration programs to leverage solutions that are in the laboratory phase or seeking commercial validation (pre-Seed).

“Suzano has established Suzano Ventures to ensure support and finance for the fast-growing ecosystem of entrepreneurs who are bringing fresh thinking and ideas to the bioeconomy and the wider environmental challenges we are all facing. Suzano Ventures will provide financial and strategic support to these enterprises and, using Suzano’s wider network and resources, will help to accelerate sustainable solutions for the pulp sector and beyond,” said Julio Ramundo, Director of Carbon Businesses and Corporate Ventures at Suzano.

Suzano has had a long history of backing new ideas and evolving throughout its 98-year history, and has invested in a number of startups in recent years as part of its efforts to identify new sustainable uses for eucalyptus biomass. Among its most recent successes is Spinnova, a Finnish company that has developed the technology to produce a highly sustainable textile fiber made from wood-based pulp fiber.

Suzano’s initial investment in Spinnova, made in 2017, was €5 million, succeeded by other investment rounds. In 2021, Spinnova was listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki and held a market capitalization of €390 million. Suzano Ventures now seeks to scale similar projects and ensure greater structure and agility in analyzing innovative projects and emerging startups seeking capital, which align with Suzano’s areas of expertise.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus’ House Foreign Affairs Committee will visit Kiyv when conditions allow, its Chairman said on Tuesday after a teleconference with their Ukrainian counterparts.

DISY MP, and head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Harris Georgiades, said that they had a joint meeting, through teleconference, with their colleagues, who are members of the corresponding Committee of the Parliament of Ukraine.

He said it was “an important meeting” during which they had the opportunity to exchnage views iwth their Ukrainian counterparts.

“We have expressed our clear, unequivocal support for Ukraine, which is under an unacceptable invasion by Russia,” he said, adding that “for us it is a matter of principle.”

“It is not just about Ukraine, it is a democratic struggle against authoritarianism and revisionism, something we know firsthand about, because of Turkey, and what it means to be invaded, what it means to be under occupation,” he added.

He also noted that they agreed with their Ukrainian counterparts that in the near future, when conditions allow, the Foreign Affairs Committee will pay a visit to Kyiv.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Director of Cyprus Sport Organization Mary Charalambous Papamiltiades, is travelling on Tuesday to Paris to attend a conference of Sports General Directors in the EU.

A press release by CSO says that Papamiltiades, at the invitation of the European Commission, will also participate in a panel discussion which will be moderated by Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth.

The discussion will take place in the framework of a forum organized by the Commission.

Source: Cyprus News Agency