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Invest Cyprus Emerges as WAIPA Eastern Europe Director for 2025–2027

Election Highlights at Sharjah Investment Conference

At the 29th WAIPA World Investment Conference 2025 in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, a decisive moment unfolded for Eastern Europe. Invest Cyprus was elected as Regional Director for the WAIPA Eastern Europe sector, underscoring the region’s enhanced strategic voice in global investment promotion. Distinguished representatives from over 140 countries converged to set the roadmap for sustaining and expanding international investment efforts in the coming years.

Elevating Global Investment Standards

Since its establishment in 2016 and headquartered in Cyprus, Invest Cyprus has steadfastly championed the island’s appeal as a premier destination for investors. Its election to the WAIPA leadership not only bolsters Eastern Europe’s presence on the global stage but also aligns with the organization’s broader mission to cultivate rigorous, impactful investment promotion strategies worldwide.

Strategic Insights and Collaborative Vision

The pre-election WAIPA Steering Committee Meeting was a forum for reflective assessment and forward planning. Senior dignitaries, including the presidency and vice-presidencies, examined the achievements of 2025 and recalibrated strategic priorities for 2026. This session emphasized member value, advocacy, and financial resilience—a triad designed to fortify WAIPA’s role in attracting sustainable and transformative investment.

Leadership Commitment and Future Directions

Invest Cyprus CEO Marios Tannousis expressed his gratitude, underscoring the organization’s resolve to enhance regional cooperation and promote disciplined investment strategies. The newly elected WAIPA leadership, which also features key appointments across multiple regions such as KDIPA as president and ProDominicana alongside Invest KOREA as vice-presidents, is set to drive a renewed era of cross-border collaboration and market innovation.

Charting the Path Forward

WAIPA’s evolved leadership framework, now encompassing diverse entities from the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre to the National Investment Council of Honduras, is poised to amplify global cooperation and deliver sustainable economic growth. As the international community grapples with evolving investment dynamics, this recalibrated leadership is pivotal in fostering an environment that is both resilient and forward-thinking, ensuring that investment promotion agencies remain at the forefront of facilitating transformative partnerships.

Cyprus Among Lowest Corporate Investment Performers In The EU

Overview Of Eurostat Findings

Eurostat data show that Cyprus recorded a business investment rate of 16% in 2024, placing it among the lowest levels in the European Union alongside Ireland. The figure is lower than rates observed in several other EU economies.

Defining The Investment Metric

The business investment rate measures the share of operating profits that companies reinvest as capital expenditure. These investments include spending on machinery, technology, and buildings, which contribute to production capacity and long-term business activity.

EU Trends And Economic Implications

Across the EU, the investment rate for non-financial corporations stood at 21.8% in the fourth quarter of 2025, the lowest level since the third quarter of 2015. Earlier data show that the rate increased from around 22% in 2014 to nearly 24% in 2018, before declining from 2021 onward.

National Disparities In Corporate Investment

Investment rates vary across member states. Hungary recorded 28.4%, followed by Croatia at 28.3% and the Czech Republic at 27.6%. Other countries, including Belgium at around 27% and Sweden at 26.9%, also reported higher levels. At the lower end, Luxembourg recorded 15.9%, the Netherlands 16.7%, and Malta 16.8%, alongside Cyprus and Ireland at 16%.

Conclusion

The data underscores significant disparities in reinvestment strategies across the European Union. For economies like Cyprus, the challenges are compounded by structural limitations and a narrower focus on service-oriented industries. To spur economic growth and safeguard future competitiveness, targeted policy interventions will be necessary to elevate business investment levels amid shifting global market conditions.

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