Foreign investors back at Presidential Palace to get answers to their proposals

The government and Invest Cyprus are back to inform investors about actions they are taking to improve the local business environment

A very important meeting is taking place at the Presidential Palace today, connected to the effort to maintain but also boost Cyprus’ standing as an international business and investment hub, on the initiative of Invest Cyprus and the government.

More than 100 investors active in various sectors of the economy will be returning to the palace for a roundtable with the government – titled “Foreign Investors Dialogue with Government: From feedback to action” – in continuation of the meeting they had last June, where the investors made a series of proposals on how to improve the local business environment.

In last June’s meeting, a group of over 20 foreign investors presented President Nikos Christodoulides and his ministers with a series of suggestions and observations on how to make Cyprus more attractive, but also to make it easier for those already doing business on the island.

In today’s new meeting, which will be attended by an even greater number of foreign investors and which is part of the state’s efforts to turn Cyprus into one of the best places to work, live and do business, government ministers will present all the actions they have been taking – or are in the works – in their fields of competency, to address all the issues that were raised during the previous roundtable with investors.

The meetings are tangible proof of the government’s – as well as President Christodoulides’ – determination to attract foreign investments that will add value to the local economy, with the island’s current investors being the best ambassadors for this and a crucial contributor to the effort.

Resolving the problems that the investors raised and taking political decisions that can help them in their business activities on the island is the government’s way of returning the favour for their significant contribution to the local economy’s growth and the formation of an economic model that counts business as one of its main pillars.

The overall aim of these meetings is to form an even friendlier and more attractive business environment for foreign investments in Cyprus. To this end, the Council of Ministers just approved a revision of the island’s strategy to attract foreign businesses, to include new actions and incentives.

Today’s meeting at the President Palace will start off with a speech by Invest Cyprus Chairman Evgenios Evgeniou, who is expected to highlight the intensive effort that is underway by the national investment agency to further improve the island’s business environment. A speech by President Christodoulides will follow, and then presentations will be made by Finance Minister Makis Keravnos, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou, Energy, Commerce and Industry Minister George Papanastasiou, Education, Sport and Youth Minister Athena Michaelidou and Labour and Social Insurance Minister Yiannis Panayiotou.

The foreign investors will then have the chance to ask questions and exchange views with the ministers, during a discussion coordinated by Media Adviser Antonis Antoniou. The event will wrap with a cocktail reception.