The Central Bank of Albania reveals that housing sales prices recorded a substantial increase in 2016, rising by an average of 12.8 percent. The phenomenon occurred in the central areas of the capital, while in the seaside areas there was a decline not only in prices but also in volume of sales. According to the Central Bank, 68 percent of sales were made through bank mortgages.

It has been noted, for the first time since 2013, also a decline in the number of unsold houses.

(ITALPRESS/MNA).

Source: medNews

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) foresees growth in real Lebanese GDP by 2% in 2017, thus keeping its growth forecast announced in October 2016, before the formation of Saad Hariri’s government on 18 November.

In addition, the IMF predicts a return of inflation in 2017 to 2.6% against the 2% estimated in October, while the consumer price index would record a -0.8% in 2016 against the previous forecast of -0.7%.

(ITALPRESS/MNA).

Source: medNews

Tunisia Finance Minister Lamia Zribi has announced the funding by Qatar to Tunisia for approximately $ 1 billion to be allocated for government reorganization. This is what the Minister said, on the commitments made by the Emir of Qatar, Temim Ben Al Hamad Al Thani, at the Tunis International Investment Conference held in Tunis last November. In particular, 500 million dollars are for the repayment of a Qatar loan expiring on 18 April 2017, with an additional 500 million dollars bank deposit with the Tunisian Central Bank (Bct), whose repayment is expected in the short term. Another 60 million euro financing agreement for the construction of 32 bridges in 21 governorates of the country was signed by the Minister of Development, Investment and International Cooperation, Fadhel Abdelkefi, and the Arab Development Fund (Fades).

(ITALPRESS/MNA).

Source: medNews

The first quarter of 2017 recorded 739,000 tourists, 24% more than the same period last year; Only in March, arrivals were 293,000, 22% more than March 2016; In both cases it is a record. The news is reported by the Israeli newspaper Jerusalem Post.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, the estimated economic impact is 4 billion shekel (about 1 billion euros) and 5,000 new jobs.

As pointed out by the Minister of Tourism, Yariv Levin, it was not a coincidence, but the result of a strategy defined through the expansion and development of marketing activities on the one hand, and the increase of new routes and Airlines on the other, which contribute to the increase of visitors; of the 739,000 tourists, about 655,000 have, in fact, traveled by plane, 20% more than in the previous year.

The government is also committed to increase the supply of hotels through the renovation and construction of new facilities in the most visited places such as Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and the Dead Sea.

(ITALPRESS/MNA).

Source: medNews

An independent economic body based in Qena should be established by the Egyptian government in May 2017 for the management of projects in the so-called Golden Triangle Area. This is reported by InfoAfrica agency. Located in Upper Egypt, between Qena and Safaga Quseyr, The Golden Triangle covers over 10,000 square kilometers and is the richest area of mineral resources of Egypt. The project for the exploitation, whose master plan belongs to the study of the Italian consultancy D’Apollonia, foresees the development of different sectors, including tourism, industrial, agriculture, commercial, and primarily mineral.
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

The Aqaba Development Corporation has launched the tender for the construction of Aqaba Sports City, a multi-purpose sports complex. The Aqaba Sports City will be built on an area of 255,000 square meters, only 12 km away from the center of Aqaba.

The project aims to create a city full of sports, able to accommodate most sports events and it is hoped it will become a potential destination for sports tourism at national, regional and international levels.
The project involves the construction of a stadium, designed according to international standards and those of FIFA, with an initial capacity of five thousand spectators, expandable up to thirty thousand spectators.

The construction of another stadium is also planned. It would be used for education and training of athletes, and will be surrounded by a track that could be used for other athletics games. In addition, outdoor courts for basketball, volleyball and handball will be built. Moreover an indoor sports hall, with a multi-purpose gym (volleyball, basketball and fitness activities) and gym for martial arts, athletics and gymnastics, as well as two swimming pools, one Olympic and one for diving, a football stadium with two football fields in synthetic, a fitness center, a billiards room, table tennis room and bowling alleys.
The project includes several restaurants and cafes distributed within the different parts of the complex, three hotels (4 and 5 stars), boutiques, administrative offices, a clinic and a center for therapy.(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

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