The new fishing year started on September 1st. About 33 percent of the fishing quota for the yeaar is held by five companies as listed below: >> HB Grandi, Reykjavik (SW) – 26,578 tons (9.67 % of total quota). >>

The Icelandic Bureau of Statistics has just published provisional trade figures for August, according to which the balance of merchandise exports and imports in that month is favourable by ISK 2.4 billion (Eur 15.9 million). The total of favourable trade balance from the beginning of the year is ISK 70.9

On July 15th, 2009, Althingi (Iceland´s parliament) resolved with a slender margin that Iceland should apply for membership of the European Union and further that the membership agreement, once finalised, should be submitted to a national vote in Iceland. Membership negotiations have since been initiated and are in normal progress.

Nothing visible came out of the Icesave session in the Hague on Thursday and Friday of last week. Steingrimur J. Sigfusson, Iceland´s Minister of Finance, said the meeting was useful. Bjarni Benediktsson, chairman of the opposition Conservative Party, said the results were nil. (Icelandic media).