Cyprus’ trade deficit widened 29% from January to August to €2.8bn compared with the respective period of 2015, mainly on increased imports, the statistical service said.

The international investment position of Cyprus recorded a small improvement in 2016 Q2, according to recent data from the island's Central Bank.

Natural gas found within Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone and efforts to exploit it in cooperation with neighbouring countries allow for even higher expectations for the island’s already flourishing shipping sector.

The Public Debt Management Office of the Ministry of Finance announced recently that it issued 6 year Treasury Bills for natural persons, of a total value of €5 million, but accepted 8 tenders of a total value of €364,000.

An independent expert evaluation of 2007-2013 funding found that Cohesion Policy investments had positive, tangible results ranging from job creation, a positive impact on regional disparities and an increase in GDP across Europe.

The number of foreign property buyers in Cyprus increased in the first three quarters of the year to 63% compared to the respective period of 2015 outstripping the national average, the department of lands and surveys said.

The UK market remains the main source of wedding tourism accounting for 50% of the 4,000 ceremonies that take place annually in Cyprus, the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) saidrecently.

The value of retail purchases in Cyprus by Cypriots using plastic money rose in September an annual 11% to €197.1m, JCC Payments System Ltd said.

European Commissioner for Employment Marianne Thyssen presented recently, in Strasbourg, the main achievements of the Youth Guarantee and Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) since their launch in 2013.

Cyprus Energy Minister Yiorgos Lakkotrypis has confirmed reports that French energy firm Total will set up camp at Limassol port and link up with a Cypriot company to begin offshore drilling.