The government’s proposal to re-establish a long-defunct car and passenger ferry service to Greece from Cyprus by the first quarter of 2020 will be based on a different approach this time, according to Shipping Deputy Minister Natasa Pilides.

Eight companies, including six from Cyprus and two that include overseas firms have submitted bids as part of the government competition for the island’s new public transport system, it was announced recently.

The government hopes a new bill will cut the red tape and encourage more investment, which is oftentimes hampered by the lengthy procedures in the state sector, government spokesman Prodromos Prodromou said recently.

Slovenian Foreign Minister Miro Cerar recently visited Cyprus aiming to enhance economic cooperation between Cyprus and Slovenia.

EY is organizing a seminar on Mergers, Acquisitions and Redomiciliations Unlocked from a Corporate Tax, Legal and VAT angle. The Seminar to be held on October 30th in Limassol and October 31st in Nicosia, is being organized jointly by EY’s Legal, International Tax and VAT teams. It aims to provide an evaluation of the tax and legal changes, while outlining major consideration points for the executives and stakeholders involved in mergers, acquisitions and redomiciliations.

Cyprus building permits issued in July 2019 and for the first seven months of the year recorded a significant increase while their value also shot-up.

Saudi Arabia has opened its doors to Cypriot tourists and another 48 nationalities through the the online e-visa system presented recently in Nicosia by the embassy with Cyprus’ deputy minister for tourism Savvas Perdios being the first Cypriot recipient.

The Cyprus Economic Society is organising a Conference on ‘Global Energy and the Eastern Mediterranean’ with Nick Butler and Charles Ellinas.

There will be an increase of over 300,000 seats (or 9%) in this winter’s flight schedule compared with the same season of 2018-2019, Hermes Airports announced recently.

Cisco has announced the reopening of its office in Cyprus and appoints Vasilis Erotokritou, a senior IT expert, as a head of the office, who will report to Antonis Tsiboukis, General Manager for Greece, Cyprus, Portugal and Malta.