Cyprus is a world class shipping centre, and this is attributed to a large extent to its passionate shipping people, their knowledge, know-how and expertise, Minister of Transport Marios Demetriades has said, addressing the annual ‘Frederick Maritime Day’ event, organised by the Frederick University of Cyprus.

President Nicos Anastasiades met King Abdullah II of Jordan in Amman where the two men agreed on a trilateral meeting with Greece in Nicosia in the autumn.

Cyprus and San Marino recently signed in Nicosia a double taxation avoidance agreement.

The board of directors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) approved Cyprus’ admission as a full member, the bank and the Finance Ministry said recently.

Oman’s Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm (SEZAD) in cooperation with the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce is organising a Business Forum in Nicosia, Cyprus on May 25, 2017 at Hilton Park Hotel to present investment opportunities in Oman.

The cabinet has rubber-stamped the casino licence deal with the only bidder, Melco Hard Rock consortium.

The government expects to collect over €7.4bn in 2018, or 3.6% more than this year, and spend just below €7.4bn, up 2.9%, Finance Minister Harris Georgiades said recently.

The cabinet recently approved a proposal by state-owned Natural Gas Public Company (Defa) to proceed as soon as possible with two tenders for the import of natural gas.

Real estate prices in all categories rose in the fourth quarter of 2016, both annually and quarterly, as demand for residential properties is pushing prices up mainly in coastal areas, the Cyprus division of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) said.

Tourist arrivals rose an annual 27% in April 2017 to 286,331, an all-time record for the month, with almost all major markets performing strongly, the statistical service said.