The Ministry of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism announced that it is offering scholarships for graduate degree programmes beginning during the 2016-2017 academic year in fields relevant to hydrocarbons.

The acquisition of Cypriot pharmaceutical company Remedica, by international Ascendis Health, listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, is a strong and clear vote in favour of the local economy, Finance Minister Harris Georgiades said.

Some 14.3% of people unemployed in Cyprus found a job between the last quarter of 2015 and the first quarter of 2016, according to Eurostat.

Cyprus’ retail trade rose 2.1% in terms of value in the first half of the year, and 5.9% in terms of volume compared to the respective period of 2015, the statistical service said.

India’s cabinet approved the renegotiated double tax avoidance treaty with Cyprus, the South-Asian country’s Finance Ministry said.

The number of real propertiesbought by non-Cypriots rose an annual 12% in the first seven months of the year to 876, which is almost one quarter of the number of properties which changed hands this year, the Department of Lands and Surveys said.

The Public Debt Management Office said that it will deposit €430m of government funds in Cyprus’ banking system after receiving offers from commercial banks at an auction.

A team of troika technocrats are due in Cyprus from September 6 to 30, 2016, to look at outstanding matters from the island’s adjustment programme, particularly with regard to reform.

A consortium comprising the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT), Chrysalis LEAP and the Cyprus Energy Agency (CEA) has been successful in its application to participate in the Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) of Climate-KIC, the main European Initiative for Climate Change and Sustainable Development.

Managing the economy is a matter of national responsibility said the Minister of Finance, Harris Georgiades recently.