International economics

The themes of the seventh FDI Summit, a major international executive-level business conference focusing on domestic and foreign direct investment, organised by The Slovenia Times and the Faculty of Economics, were: talent, competitiveness, and prosperity.

There are still many disagreement between the negotiating sites. The IMF insists on measures that will cost 1200 Euros per year for the Greek pensioners, while it also disagrees with the counter-measures the Greek side proposes. The only issue where there seems to be an agreement is the acceptance of a 3% primary surplus for 2016, when the target was just 0,5%.

Turkey attracted $12.1 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2016, higher than expected in light of the latest developments in both Turkey and the surrounding region, a top association announced on Feb. 24. 

Greek real estate company Grivalia Properties has arranged a 50 million euro ($53.41 million) credit facility with the World Bank's International Finance Corporation (IFC), the IFC said on Thursday.

Grivalia will use the long-term loan facility to improve energy efficiency in its real estate portfolio and for acquisitions.

According to a German Finance Ministry spokesperson, Germany estimates the IMF will remain on board the Greek fiscal adjustment program. When asked during a press briefing what would happen if the Fund decided to leave the program, spokesperson Juerg Weissgerber was blunt saying that in the event the program would be terminated.

Foreign direct investment into Bulgaria from January to November 2016 was nearly half the value of the first 11 months of 2015, the Bulgarian National Bank has said.

Central bank data released Thursday suggests that FDI according to the directional principle amounted to EUR 953.7 M or 2% of GDP in the eleven months of last year.

Estimates of a brisk fall in the value of foreign direct investment (FDI) into Bulgaria are "not quite correct", Stamen Yanev, who heads the country's investment promotion agency, has said.

The year 2016 was a "successful" year in the view of InvestBulgaria Agency, Yanev has told Bloomberg Tv Bulgaria's morning talkshow in an interview.

EU Commission Vice President Kristalina Georgieva has said she is leaving the EU's executive body the take up a senior position at the World Bank.

The development is due to take effect as of January 02, 2017, Georgieva has said in a statement.

Her new appointment means Bulgaria will have to propose a successor.

BELGRADE - An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission led by James Roaf will visit Belgrade Thursday for discussions on the sixth review under a precautionary stand-by arrangement with Serbia.

BELGRADE - An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission led by James Roaf will visit Belgrade during October 20 - November 1, 2016, to hold discussions on the sixth review under a precautionary stand-by arrangement with Serbia, IMF Resident Representative for Serbia Sebastian Sosa announced Wednesday.