Giant Russian tour operator OTI is planning to bring more than 35,000 tourists to Cyprus in 2016 via its subsidiaries Coral Travel and Sunmar Tours, it announced recently.

Melco International Development Limited and Hard Rock International, owner of the internationally recognized Hard Rock Hotels, Casinos and Cafe brands said recently they welcomed the decision by the Cyprus government to short list them for the island’s casino resort project.

Noble Energy CEO David Stover said recently that the company’s main next steps would be its marketing effort to identify potential customers for the gas from the Aphrodite field.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announced the sixth round of the Survey on the Business Environment and Enterprise Performance (BEEPS) in Cyprus.

Officials from the International Monetary Fund, which made funds available for Cyprus’ bailout programme, said the island’s economy made “impressive policy achievements” over the past three years.

Plans to build a 30-storey building on the outskirts of Limassol have been given the green light from the Department of Environment, according to media reports.

DVB Bank has acquired just under half of Celestyal Cruises Ltd’s share capital following a loan restructuring agreement between the Bank and Louis Plc on 11 March 2016.

Agriculture Minister Nicos Kouyialis is set to lock in additional EU support for the local citrus trees sector and agriculture in general in Brussels, as a countermeasure to the EU embargo imposed on Russia and the problem of drought.

President Nicos Anastasiades has expressed his government's determination to protect and further develop the island's shipping sector.

The trade deficit was €3.375,4m in January-December 2015 compared to €3.701,5m in the corresponding period of 2014, according to data released by the Statistical Service of Cyprus.