Chartered accountants will be given a role in speeding up investment projects deemed “strategic” by the state, according to a bill still in the public consultation stage.

The interest rate on consumer credit registered a decline to 3.03% in July compared with 3.14% in the previous month, the central bank said on Wednesday.

The annual seasonally adjusted GDP growth rate is estimated at 12.9% for the second quarter of 2021, a huge improvement on the 2.1% shrinkage in the previous three months.

According to the Ministry of Health, 74.2% of the adult population in Cyprus has been fully vaccinated.

Bank of Cyprus announced on Wednesday delivery of a robust performance in the first half of 2021: Revenue and profit is up, new lending has jumped to €894 million, and 96% of loans that had been covered by the moratorium are now making regular payments.

A study by the European statistical service (Eurostat) has shown that 71% of Cypriots have a generally favourable view of the quality of life in Cyprus.

Final preparations are underway on the part of the government for the restart of natural gas exploration activities offshore Cyprus, with the Exxon Mobil/Qatar Petroleum set to begin work in late November to early December.

The process of submitting applications to register establishment in the register of self-service accommodation continues with great interest.

The Cypriot government will take a political decision this week on a proposal to start administering third Covid-19 vaccine doses ahead of the flu season in response to the Delta variant threat that emerged sooner than expected during the summer.

Revenue from tourism in June 2021 reached €135.8 million compared to €6.7 million recorded in June 2020, when there was a ban of entry to the Republic of Cyprus on several categories of persons, including tourists to prevent the spread of Covid-19.