Business

 Finance Ministry announces spending at supermarkets, tavernas and fuel stations will count in 2014

By Prokopis Hatzinikolaou

The outlook for the global travel industry looks brighter for 2014 as European economic recovery and rising consumer confidence are prompting holidaymakers and businesses to loosen their purse strings again.

Tourists are spending more on their vacations, going for higher-quality or more frequent trips abroad.

Piraeus Bank’s planned bond issue will be the first public debt sale from a Greek lender since 2009 when the first cracks started to appear in the nation’s finances, according to UBS AG.

European Central Bank funding to Greek banks dropped by 2.5 billion euros to 60.72 billion euros at end-January from the previous month, the Bank of Greece said on Friday.

Emergency liquidity assistance (ELA) from the Greek central bank, by contrast, rose in the same period, to 10.12 billion euros from 9.79 billion, the figures showed.

[Reuters]

Russian energy giant Gazprom has warned that it will stop supplies to Ukraine if it does not pay its debt.

Alexei Miller, its Executive Director, explained Ukraine currently owes USD 1.89 B and assure his company "cannot supply gas for free", he was reported by Businessweek as saying.

BELGRADE - The Belgrade Irish Festival (BIF) returns on March 13 to 18 for its second edition, in the rhythm of the Irish step dance.

The highlight of the event will be the festival-closing performance of the legendary Irish dance troupe Lord of the Dance on March 18 at Belgrade's Kombank Arena.

Serbia investment conference to be held in France

KOPAONIK -- The Serbia investment conference will be held in Paris on May 23 and attended by representatives of 50 large French companies, potential investors in Serbia.

This has been announced by Chairman of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS) Željko Sertić.

Minister praises "favorable loan"; opposition unconvinced

ABU DHABI, BELGRADE -- The USD 1 billion loan that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) granted to Serbia is very favorable, Serbian Minister of Finance Lazar Krstić has said.

It is also a sign of trust in the Serbian economy, according to him.

Simeon Djankov, former Bulgarian Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, is to enter the Supervisory Council of Russian VTB Bank.

"Nothing is holding back South Stream project"

BELGRADE -- There are no misunderstandings between the Serbian and Russian partners regarding the South Stream gas pipeline project, says Dušan Bajatović.