The number of company registrations rose 8.9% in March, to 1,315, compared to the respective month of 2016, the Department of Registrar of Companies and Official Receiver said.

Cyprus can develop into an important energy hub in the Mediterranean, Transport Minister Marios Demetriades said recently, adding that government policy will include Cyprus’ future maritime transport needs for the island’s hydrocarbons.

The price of home prices rose in the fourth quarter of 2016 an annual 2.8% and 3.1% compared with July to September, the statistical service said.

Highly anticipated and already in demand, the only apartments in the sea in the Mediterranean have just been released for sale.

India announced its decision to extend the eVisa facility to Cypriot passport holders for tourism purposes.

The number of registered unemployed persons in Cyprus declined to 39,088 in March this year, marking a reduction of 8.6% compared to March 2016, the Cyprus Statistical Service (Cystat) said recently.

Exxon Mobil Corporation and Qatar Petroleum announced that they have signed an exploration and production sharing contract with the Republic of Cyprus for offshore Block 10.

An increase of 32% was recorded in real estate sales to foreigners during the first quarter of 2017 according to data from the Land Registry.

Consumer prices rose an annual 1.9% in March 2017, the highest rate since September 2012 on more increased prices for electricity and fuel, after rising 1.6% in February and 0.6% in January, the statistical service said.

Total plans to start exploration drilling in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the first two weeks of July 2017, as it signed the contract for the exploration and production-sharing of blocks 6 and 8.