After almost one year of political instability, Spain finally formed a government. Mariano Rajoy – who got the confidence vote ot Chamber of Deputies with simple majority of votes – appointed, last 3 November, the ministers members of his Cabinet. The choice made by the Spanish Prime Minister provides signals of continuity on economic matters. In fact, Luis de Guindos keeps his place as Minister of Economy and adds Industry to his portfolio. Similarly, Cristobal Montoro will continue to lead the Ministry of Finance and Fátima Báñez keeps her position as Minister of Labour and Social Security.

These three ministries will face some of the main challenges that the country will have to deal with in the coming months. First and foremost, the preparation of the budget law for 2017, which will have to merge economic incentives and the reduction of the public deficit, in accordance with what agreed upon in the framework of the EU.

Another topic that cannot be postponed any longer is the pensions that, due to the significant aging of the population, risks not to be sustainable anymore, should the funding system stay unchanged.

Furthermore, the necessity to create stable and quality jobs, in order to reduce unemployment, especially for the youth, is not to be forgotten. In addition to these requests, many others come from the business sector, among which an industrial policy in favour of competitiveness and innovation, more instruments to the internationalization of enterprises and reforms oriented to a digitalization of the economy. With reference to the latter, the creation of a new Ministry that, under the leadership of the new Minister – Alvaro Nadal – assumes competences for energy, tourism and digital agenda was welcomed.

(ITALPRESS/MNA).

Source: medNews

The agri-food sector grew by 11% annually, according to the second report “Investment opportunities in the agri-food sector 2016” published by the Investment Development Authority in Lebanon (IDAL).

The sector has an estimated work force of 21,000 units, which represent the highest part of the industrial sector. 

Bread- and pastry-making products account for about 23% of the agri-food sector. Pastry-making sector follows with 22%, dairy food 16%, starch-based food 8% and alcoholic beverages 7%.

Agri-food export grew by 25% in the last four years, reaching USD 550 million last year. Bread- and pastry-making account for about 18% of the exports, followed by dairy products, fruit and vegetables, oils and alcoholic beverages.

Some 65% of agri-food products was exported to Arab countries, while 23% was exported to European countries.

According to IDAL, there are major opportunities in five sectors: olive oil, dairy products, nuts and dried fruit, wine, and transformed food products. Wine has an estimated market size of USD 41 million, which includes 40 wine companies. Some 32% of wine was exported to Great Britain, 17% to France and 14% to the United States.

(ITALPRESS/MNA).

Source: medNews

Following maintenance works, last Saturday the electro-nuclear power station of Krško has been connected to the national electric grid and that, since then, it has been working regularly. The interruption lasted since 1 October, and maintenance works (which included also the replacement of some parts) costed about EUR 20 million.

(ITALPRESS/MNA).

Source: medNews

In view of the forthcoming COP22 in Marrakech, from 7 to 18 November, Tunisia is working to a new energy plan based on low carbon emissions.

The announcement comes directly from the Ministry of Energy of Tunisia, Hela Sheikrouhou. In recent years, Tunisia made major improvements from the economic point of view, focusing the efforts on the capacity to attract investments and it understood the role that energy efficiency can play in this period. Currently, Tunisia uses twice the amount of energy set by OSCE in order to produce dinars 1 of GDP. The COP22 is the best moment to present to the entire world their low carbon emissions projects. Minister Sheikrouhou commented in this way the announcement of the new plan: “Within two weeks we will start preparing the first investment plan in renewable energy. A long list of projects will be announced shortly on the autonomous production of renewable energy by the private sector, increasing the activities of the Tunisian operator for electricity and gas. The plan will cost about EUR 815 million”.

“Tunisia is working for a low carbon emissions system and for an economy resistant to climate change, and it offers great investments opportunities in energy efficiency, in renewable energy, in the fight against climate change that impacts agriculture and water resources”. “Increasing energy efficiency – Sheikrouhou said – allows to facilitate energy subsidies and to re-allocate these resources in other priority sectors, such us schooling and health”.

(ITALPRESS/MNA).

Source: medNews

Divergent opinions between the Israeli Public Comptroller and the Israeli Post on the level of upgrade of the international posting system. While, on the one hand, the public authority notices some inefficiency, on the other hand the Post claims the progress made in the last two years. This is what the economic newspaper Globes refers today. 

Israeli Post representatives argue that the study, whose findings seem not to be satisfactory, was carried out in 2015, a period in which the company was undergoing a major reorganization plan with new management that gave strategic development importance to the on-line market.

This strategy led to an increase of the delivery facilities from 700 to 1000 planned, longer opening hours of the post offices, a more efficient customer service, the possibility of having home service, apps and tracking services.

With this strategy, the Israeli Post are getting ready to satisfy a constantly growing demand of on-line services, which involves Israel as any other mature economy.

(ITALPRESS/MNA).

Source: medNews

The first biogas power station in the capital of Montenegro for the production of electricity from waste, that is, from the biogas accumulated in the landfill of the municipality of Podgorica, is expected to be activated by the end of 2017. The power station, part of which has already been built, will cost EUR 2 million in total, and will be managed by a public-private partnership. The director of the Deponija landfill said to the local press that a tender for a feasibility and economic sustainability study will be issued soon.

(ITALPRESS/MNA).

Source: medNews

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) expressed “great concern” about the high number of refugees and migrants in 2016 WHO have lost their lives crossing the Mediterranean. To date, despite still missing two months to the end of the year, there are at least 3,740 dead and missing – a little less than 3,771 recorded in 2015, so far the deadliest year. A “tragic outcome” is detected despite the sharp overall decline in the number of people who have crossed the Mediterranean to reach Europe.

“Decrement” apparent if it is true that only yesterday, 24th October, the Italian Coast Guard has rescued 2,200 migrants in the central Mediterranean, in 21 different rescue operations (18 rafts and 3 small boats).

According to UNHCR data, there are about 327,800 refugees and migrants who undertook the dangerous crossing, compared to 1,015,078 recorded in 2015. Since the beginning of 2016, one person in every 88 who attempted the crossing has lost life, a figure up sharply compared to 1 person every 269 last year. In the central Mediterranean this figure is even higher, with one death every 47 arrivals.

There are many causes of this increase, in the opinion of UNHCR, : about half of those who cross the Mediterranean are headed to Italy and embark from North Africa, a notoriously dangerous route.

Traffickers are also using increasingly poor quality vessels, including fragile rafts that often do not stand up to the entire duration of the trip. The cause of several accidents appear to be bad weather, but also the tactics of traffickers are changing in many cases have occurred mass departures of thousands of people simultaneously. This may be due to the fact that human trafficking is shifting towards new modes or perception that the risks linked to the crossing are lower than before, which makes the work more difficult rescuers.

“Facing this situation, while ensuring asylum systems functioning, it remains a political challenge for many countries, but measures to save lives are” points out that UNHCR calls on all countries “to do more in this regard. Strengthening access to regular routes to ensure safety of refugees has become a more urgent priority and this must be realized through actions such as the strengthening of the resettlement and humanitarian admission, family reunification, private sponsorship, and the granting of visas to refugees for humanitarian reasons, study and work. “

The high mortality rate also points out “the importance of continuous and intense search and rescue action, without which the number of casualties would certainly be higher,” concluded UNHCR and thanked “governments and private entities that every day and often in difficult conditions, contribute to this important life-saving work”.

(ITALPRESS/MNA).

Source: medNews

Tasting Sicily will sponsor the Slow Food Mediterranean Conference, an event sponsored by Slow Food Anglia in collaboration with Slow Food Slow Food Malta and Sicily, it will be held in Valletta. The themes of the event will be those closest to the ethics of Slow Food, enhancement of good food, clean and fair. But the conference will also be the perfect opportunity to promote the first Slow Food Festival which will be held in the island this June. Two years ago, the small group of Slow Food Malta has developed the idea of organizing a festival of homemade food, which could bring the various Slow Food groups, based in Malta, in order to promote the excellence of the Mediterranean. So today the Grand Hotel Excelsior in Valletta will host the Mediterranean Conference with debates and workshops of different  international guests as well as representatives of various Slow Food.

During the conference meeting participants will focus on two central themes of significant value: sustainable fishing with a particular focus on the local fishing industry and the importance of extra virgin olive oil. In the middle of the event there will be served a buffet lunch prepared by renowned chef Enzo Oliveri, Tasting Sicily-based products and other Slow Food Sicilia, including: sesame of Ispica, black pig of Nebrodi , pistachios from Bronte, antique Apples from Etna, and strawberries of Ribera. The will of the chef of Tasting Sicily, lunch sponsor, is to give luster to products of excellence like the ancient Sicilian grains, and to highlight several Slow Food Sicily. For this reason the Timilia grain will be used by the expert hands of Francesco Arena, known baker of Messina who works with yeast and ancient Sicilian grains, to prepare bruschetta that will be served with pâté and side dishes of Tasting Sicily.

(ITALPRESS/MNA).

Source: medNews

The Jordanian Government has given the green light for the development, construction and operation of a 200 MW photovoltaic plant. The plant will built, from MASDAR companies – Abu Dhabi for Energy in the Al Muwaqqar area in north-west of Amman.

The new plant once connected to the electricity grid should satisfy the energy needs of 110,000 units and there is expected to contribute to the reduction of about 360,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year.

(ITALPRESS/MNA).

Source: medNews

Interior Minister of Italy Angelino Alfano, met Interior Minister and National Security of the Republic of Malta, Carmelo Abela. The cooperation between Italy and Malta in the field of security, to combat illegal immigration and terrorism were the main topics.

On the migration front, Alfano and Abela agreed on the fact that the phenomenon of landings and migration in the central Mediterranean is a European problem and as such requires a collective response of the European Union. The two ministers also confirmed the close cooperation between the two countries, bilaterally and at the European level, in preventing and combating terrorism and radicalization. Alfano and Abela agreed, finally, to continue their joint action for the forthcoming European events and, in particular, in view of the forthcoming presidency of Malta in the European Union.

(ITALPRESS/MNA).

Source: medNews