Cabinet announces establishment of the Cyprus Defence Industry Council

The Cabinet has approved the establishment of the Cyprus Defence Industry Council (CDIC).

A statement from the Ministry of Defence said that the decision was made as part of the implementation of the governance programme, with the aim of supporting and promoting the domestic defence industry.

The Council named Minister of Defence Vasilis Palmas as the CDIC's President while the members include Dr. Panayiotis Hadjipavlis, Director of the General Procurement and Defence Capability Development Directorate of the Ministry of Defence.

Stavros Stavrou, President of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as Antonis Antoniou, Chairman of the Cyprus Employers & Industrialists Federation (OEB) were appointed members, including Dr. Tasos Kounoudis, President of the Cyprus Association of Research and Innovation Enterprises, Dr. Varnabas Serghides, Academic, Zacharias Siokouros, Director of the Center of Excellence, Rear Admiral (Ret.) Konstantinos Fytiris, and Dr. Constantinos Hadjisavvas were also appointed.

The Council will have an advisory role with the main mission of recommending the key options during the planning of government policy in the field of the defence industry.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the main responsibilities of the Council will be to submit proposals to the President of the Republic for the development of the country's defence research, technology, and industry, to align the defence industry with national goals in the fields of defence and security, to develop national defence capabilities, systems, and technologies for the armament needs of the National Guard, to promote cooperation among national universities, research centers, and innovative Cypriot enterprises, as well as the National Guard and other relevant international bodies, and to promote investments for the development of domestic defence industrial production units in areas of interest to the National Guard.

The term of the President and the members of the Council is five years.

(Source: CNA)