The goal for Cyprus is to see over two million foreign visitors until the end of the year, Deputy Minister of Tourism Savvas Perdios said on Tuesday.

Total exports of goods to the EU Member States and to third countries in January - February 2022 increased by 55.2%, compared to the same period last year, according to the monthly report published by the Statistical Service of Cyprus. At the same time, the trade deficit fell to €955 million in the first two months of this year compared to €999.1 million in the first two months of 2021.

GDP growth in Cyprus this year will decelerate to 2.3% from the previous estimate of 3.6%, while inflation will more than double due to negative geopolitical developments associated with the war in Ukraine, Central Bank governor Constantinos Herodotou said.

The European Commission has announced it has approved a state aid scheme worth a total of €890.000 for halloumi producers, in the context of dealing with the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Cyprus Productivity Centre (CPC) of the Ministry of Labour has announced that in the context of e-government promotion, it is offering a digital skills training workshop on Windows for people aged 55 and over.

Drilling works have started at "Cronos-1" within Block 6, of Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone, the Ministry of Energy announced on Monday.

The Bank of Cyprus plans to reduce the number of its branches by 25% and workforce by 15% this year. In numbers, this means 500 jobs will go and branches would be reduced from 80 to 60.

More than a third of land in Cyprus is protected, the sixth highest rate in the EU27, according to figures published by Eurostat on Saturday on the occasion of Natura 2000 Day, which is marked annual on May 21 and the International Day for Biological Diversity, marked on May 22.

Amid rising concern in Europe over outbreaks of monkeypox, the health ministry issued guidance on Saturday offering information about the virus to the public.

The Bank of Cyprus on Thursday announced that it recorded a profit after tax of €21 million during the first quarter of 2022, €13 million higher than the corresponding period of 2021.