The data published by the Central Bank of Albania reveal that the rate of bad debt recorded a further decline of 0.2% in February, reaching the 18.03 percent share of the total portfolio of loans by financial institutions operating in the country. The decline, according to experts, is mainly due to the cancellation of the bad debt from banks balance sheets. During 2016, the amount of charged-off loans amounted to 14.6 billion lek (about 107 million euro), in addition to 26.7 billion leks (197 million euro) canceled in 2015. At the end of last February, the amount of bad debt was about 98 billion lek (about 715 million euro).
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

The United Arab Emirates are showing their appreciation for the quality of Mokarabia coffee. In just a few short months, the Italian coffee roaster has opened its fourth coffee bar in Doha, Qatar’s charming capital. The first was opened in the famous Medina Centrale neighbourhood and the second inside Ezdan Tower 1, the city’s business centre located in the West Bay. Riding this wave of success, the company has recently debuted two new coffee bars in the “Mall of Qatar”, the nation’s largest shopping centre aspiring to become one of the world’s main luxury shopping destinations. With an estimated 25 million visitors per year, the ultra-modern complex stands at the gates of Doha on an area of over 500,000 square meters, and can be directly reached from Saudi Arabia. This exclusive centre hosts over 500 stores of the world’s most prestigious brands, 100 restaurants, bars and cafés, a five-star Curio Collection by Hilton hotel and a 19-theatre cinema with the most innovative 3D technologies. There is also an arena inside – which required an investment of 25 million euros alone – offering daily shows and entertainment by international artists. The “Mall of Qatar” offers its visitors a unique experience with special effects accompanying shopping and leisure in an oasis of a thousand and one nights.

“This is certainly another great success for the company,” said Luca Giani, CEO of Mokarabia. “Mokarabia coffee bar is an expression of Italian quality and culture. It has all the necessary ingredients to please both those who love beauty and those who enjoy every moment of the day. The new bar stands in a place that represents today’s global centre of luxury shopping. We are sure that with the class and taste of our excellent coffee, the two new sales points will conquer the hearts of even the most discerning clients”. Mokarabia coffee bar brilliantly passed through a rigorous selection process and a long waiting list to become one of the brands housed in the “Mall of Qatar”; a milestone achieved also thanks to Nicolas Agus’s (an expert in foreign markets) constant presence and supervision. In fact, the company has responded positively to the spirit of this project, which is revolutionizing the concept of shopping in the capital of the emirate. Mokarabia embodies the perfect blend of quality and modern design, fitting perfectly into the general framework of the “Mall of Qatar”.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

Turkey was the fifth largest trade partner of the European Union last year, according to data from the Union’s statistical authority on March 29. In 2016, Turkey’s trade volume with the 28-member bloc was 145 billion euros (156 billion dollars), comprising 4.2 percent of the overall trade volume of the EU, Eurostat’s report said.

Last year, Turkey’s exports to the EU stood at 66.7 billion euros, up 8.3 percent from a year earlier, making it the fifth largest import market of the bloc with an approximate share of 4 percent in overall EU imports.

Turkey’s imports from the EU, on the other hand, were 78.01 billion euros, down 13 percent (or 990 million euros) from 2015. That placed Turkey as the fourth largest export destination of EU, with a 4.5 percent share in overall EU exports.

The U.S. topped the list of the largest EU trading partners with a trade volume of 610 billion euros, or 17.7 percent of the total EU trade in goods. China came second with a trade volume of 515 billion euros, or a 14.9 percent share.

Switzerland and Russia occupy the third and fourth spots in terms of trade volume, with shares of 7.6 percent and 5.5 percent respectively.

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

 The extraordinary meeting of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Malta has renewed its board of directors. Victor Camilleri, who has led the MICC over the past two years, was confirmed as President. The turning point is represented by the election of 7 Italian entrepreneurs out of 9 members who make up the board of the MICC. It is the first time that the Italian business community has such a strong representation within the Chamber. Stanislao Filice, from Salerno, director of Lean Consulting Network, was elected vice president.

The other seven members of the board are Roberto Capelluto, Lombard, president of Liquigas Malta; Robert Borg, Maltese, director Studio Borg Associated Malta; Luca Meli, a Sicilian, director of Italiani.it; Marco Arcella, from Calabria, director of Malta Vocational Center; Marco Oliver La Rosa, German, director of Richmond & Anderson; Francesco Trimboli, from Calabria, director of the law firm Trimboli and member of ADUSBEF Italy; Massimiliano Arena, from Calabria, director of Arena Consulting.

“It is an important change – says the president Camilleri – the Italian business community in Malta is booming and there was a need for greater representation in the Governing Council of the MICC. Until now, the Italian community had never had a representative. This will allow the Chamber to be the benchmark of Italian entrepreneurs and to support Maltese entrepreneurs who have business relations with Italy. However, a big thank you goes to the Cav. Marcello Cherubino who in 15 years has led and supported MICC with great passion “.

“Our goal will be to fully support the internationalization of Italian companies – argues Filice, neo vice president – we cannot let the Italian community in Malta without a concrete point of reference. In recent months, Italy started moving again and the MICC will act as attractor of international investments from Malta to Italy, I am confident of this”.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

A delicate operation was performed at the ISMETT in Palermo on a 38 year old woman from Malta, who in February had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. For this reason, the doctors who were following her in Malta have preferred – as several other times in the last year – to transfer the patient to the Unit of Abdominal Surgery and Abdominal Transplantation of ISMETT.

“The surgery consisted in a total pancreatectomy with replacement of the portal vein and the superior mesenteric vein through the interposition of a venous segment taken from a donor of organs with compatible blood group – Salvatore Gruttadauria, responsible of the Unit, says – the patient was discharged dall’ISMETT ten days after the surgery, and is now well and continues the rehabilitation. “

Four hundred pancreatic resections, over 1,050 liver resections and nearly 1100 liver transplants: these are some figures of the abdominal surgery activity at ISMETT. The Institute is now a real reference point for abdominal surgery in the Euro-Mediterranean basin. Last year, Ismett has attracted patients from Serbia, Cyprus, Malta and other Italian regions, achieving the 2% of the work on non-Sicilian patients.

(ITALPRESS/MNA).

Source: medNews

The company AGC Automotive Induver – formed as a result of a joint venture between the Moroccan company Induver and AGC, subsidiary of the Japanese group Asahi Glass – started the construction of a new factory in the “Atlantic Free Zone” of Kenitra. The new plant will produce tempered glass for the rear windows of cars, side windows and laminated glass windshield. The plant, which will have a total cost of about 130 million euro, will be developed on a total area of 12 hectares and will give jobs to 600 employees. The planned annual production capacity is 1.1 million complete sets of glass for cars, which will be exported annually for an amount of approximately 90 million euro. The new factory director, Gauthier Delmarre, said that the first customers will be the automakers Renault and PSA. The first currently has two factories in Morocco (Tangier and Casablanca), the second will start in 2019 the production in the new plant in Kenitra.

(ITALPRESS/MNA).

Source: medNews

The Head Office for Energy of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Slovenia has published the call for the co-financing grant of small plants for the production of wind and hydro power (power from 50 kW to 10 MW). The funds available are a total of 4 million euro. The following are entitled to apply: businesses, self-employed entrepreneurs and cooperatives registered in Slovenia (as defined in the Companies Act and the Law on Cooperatives). Eligible costs: works and supplies, equipment directly related to the production of wind and hydro energy, construction supervision services (3% of eligible costs of the operation).

The co-financed part will cover up to 20% of eligible costs of the operation with a minimum contribution of the beneficiary of 80%. The operation allowed to co-financing must be completed no later than 24 months from the signing of the concession. The costs are eligible if they incurred in the period between the submission of the application and 31/10/2020.

Applications must be submitted by 28.09.2017 at: Ministrstvo za infrastrukturo, Langusova ulica Ljubljana 4.1535.

(ITALPRESS/MNA).

Source: medNews

The relevance of the European Union in today’s circumstances as it confronts challenges such as Brexit, the economic crisis, immigration and terrorism was at the forefront of a two-day congress held in Malta with the participation of 1,300 delegates from over 40 European countries forming part of the European People’s Party (EPP) . ‘Secure Europe’s Future’ was the main theme of the debate.

The recently elected Antonio Tajani, President of the European Parliament, stated that only through unity and cooperation can these challenges can be overcome. “We need to work closely together to become stronger”.

The Congress of the EPP was also addressed by Angelino Alfano, the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Head of the New Center-Right Party. He declared: “our job is to save Europe by offering solutions to these challenges. As the founders created Europe, now we need to save it”. He added that strong action needs to be enforced to defend Europe against the challenges posed by Brexit, immigration, terrorism and financial crisis. “Europe is the solution and not the problem as populist politicians assert”.

Tajani pursued his political argument based on Angelino Alfano’s line of thought . “Investment in Africa is pivotal in combatting immigration, whilst terrorism and the exit process of the United Kingdon onset yesterday through the UK government notification need to be addressed through solidarity and cooperation”.

Silvio Berlusconi, Leader of Forza Italia, attended the EPP Congress and held several bilateral talks including a meeting with Simon Busuttil, Leader of the Opposition and of the Nationalist Party in Malta . At the end of the meeting Berlusconi informed the media that the discussion focused on the political situation in Europe, the danger of immigration from Africa and an update on the political situation in Malta presented to him by Dr. Busuttil. It is to be noted that Berlusconi has always been a great friend and supporter of the Malta Nationalist Party leaders.

Addressing the EPP congress, Donald Tusk, the President of the European Council of Ministers affirmed that through the Brexit process, the EU will emerge stronger while Jean-Claude Juncker, President the European Commission, assured that Brexit will not determine the EU’s end.

Jean-Claude Juncker also made subtle cynical reference to the President of the United States, Donald Trump’s position on Brexit as he has encouraged more countries to follow stead. Juncker mockingly stated “If he holds on to this opinion then I will suggest that both Ohio and Texas become independent states”.

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

The production of LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) in Algeria has reached 4.3 million m3, with an implementation rate of 83% of the target, representing a decrease by 12% compared to February 2016 and an increase of 41% over to the realizations of the same period of the year 2015. In the area of refining, 4 million tons of crude oil have been transformed, with an implementation rate of 103% compared to the objective, a decrease of 3% compared to the embodiments at the end of February 2016. The amount of condensate treated at the RA2K refinery reached 0.8 million tons, with an implementation rate of 109% of the target, representing an increase by 6% compared to the achievements at the end of February 2016.

(ITALPRESS/MNA).

Source: medNews

The Tunisian trade deficit grew by 86% in the first two months of this year compared to the same period last year. This was reported by official data of the State Statistics Institute, which added that the deficit widened to 2.51 billion Tunisian dinars (1.1 billion dollars) in January and February of this year, compared with 1.35 billion dinars (560 million dollars) in the same two months of last year. According to an official source, Tunisia will have to take urgent measures in the coming days to reduce its imports.

(ITALPRESS/MNA).

Source: medNews