AmCham holds annual US Independence Day celebration in Nicosia (pics)

The American Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Cyprus (AmCham) held its annual US Independence Day celebration event at the University of Nicosia, in honour of the late Ambassador Judith Gail Garber.

The event started with a small video AmCham prepared in memory of the US Ambassador in Cyprus, Judith G. Garber, followed by the presentation of a portrait of Garber painted by the artist Anna Privalof to Ambassador Julie Fisher, with the aim of delivering the portrait to Garber’s family.

Afterwards, AmCham’s President, Georgios A. Georgiou, welcomed the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Constantinos Kombos, the Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry, George Papanastasiou, the Chief Scientist of Research, Innovation and Technology, Demetris Skourides, the US Ambassador Julie Fisher, as well as the numerous participants and guests of the event.

During his short introductory comments, Georgiou commented on the excellent collaboration of AmCham with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Energy, as well as with the American Embassy in Nicosia and the Cyprus’ Embassy in Washington.

Moreover, he noted the encouraging developments in further enhancing the partnership between Cyprus and the USA and the positive repercussions this will bring about in further strengthening the investment, economic, trade and people – to people relations between Cyprus and the United States.

He also welcomed the recent co-operation developed between the Cyprus Space Research and Innovation Centre (C-SpaRC) and NASA, which is fully aligned with the Cyprus Space Strategy for 2022-2027 of the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Technology, with the aim to reinforce the national space ecosystem with key pillars, including Space Technologies and Communication services, Earth observation and Space Education and Science.

In closing, Georgiou thanked AmCham’s diamond sponsor, ECOMMBX, the bronze sponsors, Baker Tilly, Cablenet, KPMG, PwC and Hellenic Bank, the event sponsors, Invest Cyprus and the University of Nicosia, as well as the supported of the event, the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In his address, the Minister of Foreign Affairs praised the co-operation between AmCham, the Government of the Republic and the US Embassy and commented on the growing partnership between Cyprus and the USA to the benefit of both countries and peoples.

In this regard, he mentioned some significant milestones such as the 2018 Statement of Intent, the 2019 Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act and the founding in 2021 of the “Cyprus Center for Land, Open-Seas and Port Security” (CYCLOPS).

Moreover, he made specific remarks in relation to the partnership between Cyprus and the US, together with the European Union (EU) and others, in establishing the Cyprus Maritime Corridor, the “Amalthea” initiative, for the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza, hailing this collective humanitarian effort to deliver desperately needed humanitarian aid to the civilians in Gaza.

A partnership which was the natural continuation of Cyprus’ role as a safe haven in the region, with Cyprus in the past becoming an evacuation centre for Americans and Europeans at times of instability and war in our neighbourhood.

Last, but not least, he stressed that the recent launching of the structured Strategic Dialogue between Cyprus and the US epitomises the joint commitment to this partnership and the alignment of the interests of our two countries in securing stability and security in the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as deepening our bilateral relations across the whole spectrum of our cooperation. To this end, he expressed the hope that soon Cyprus will be included in the US Visa Waiver Program that will allow Cypriot citizens to travel to the United States without the need to obtain, in advance, an entry permit.

On her behalf, Ambassador Julie Fisher thanked AmCham for the moving event in memory of the late Ambassador Judith Garber, praising her predecessor’s efforts in further advancing the relationship between the two countries and her vital support in AmCham’s endeavours.

She also stressed the importance of recent developments in further deepening the ever-growing partnership between Cyprus and US, including in the areas of economy and investment, security and defence, rule of law, innovation, science, technology, research, and expanded cultural and educational exchanges.

At the same time, she emphasised that this unprecedented collaboration between the two governments has a tangible effect on people to people ties and conveyed the US commitment to decisively further bolster our relations.

Lastly, she commented on the incredible partnership AmCham had established with both her and her predecessor and the positive impact of this relationship on trade, investment, economic and people-to-people contacts between the two countries.