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Keve Champions Minds In Cyprus Initiative To Attract Global Talent

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

January 21, 2026

Overview Of The Minds In Cyprus Program

The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Keve) has reaffirmed its commitment to reversing the longstanding brain drain by expanding the Minds In Cyprus programme. Originally launched in 2025 as part of a government strategy to repatriate top-tier talent, the initiative has already attracted significant international interest from Cypriot professionals eager to return home.

Global Outreach And Strategic Engagement

Building on early successes, Keve is set to amplify its international presence throughout 2026. A series of three major events scheduled in New York, San Francisco, Athens or Thessaloniki, and the United Kingdom will spotlight a robust mix of employment opportunities, government incentives, and active recruitment channels. These gatherings will not only feature presentations from the Cyprus Presidency outlining the nation’s action plan, but will also provide a platform for Cypriot companies to engage directly with global talent.

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Incentives And Economic Impact

The initiative is underpinned by a progressive incentive framework designed to lure skilled professionals back to Cyprus. Among its key features are tax relief measures that currently offer a 20% exemption on the first employment income for eligible returnees. With proposals under consideration to extend these benefits—potentially increasing the exemption to 25% or even 50% under certain conditions—the program underscores a targeted effort to create a competitive, attractive economic environment. Businesses and professionals can learn more and register their interest via the official Minds In Cyprus 2026 platform.

A Strategic Response To Brain Drain

As fresh data highlights that over 600 Cypriot nationals living abroad have signaled their readiness to return under the current incentive scheme, industry leaders and policymakers alike see Minds In Cyprus as a pivotal tool in reconnecting the country’s economy with its expatriate talent pool. While debates continue regarding the balance of incentives between returnees and those who have remained, the programme remains an essential bridge to sustainable economic growth and innovation in Cyprus.

Conclusion

With a strategic mix of policy reform, global outreach, and direct private sector engagement, Keve’s expanded Minds In Cyprus initiative not only positions Cyprus as a competitive destination for high-skilled professionals but also sets a benchmark for similar repatriation schemes worldwide. The government and industry stakeholders are keenly watching the unfolding impact of these measures, confident that the right mix of incentives will usher in a new era of talent-driven economic revitalization.

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Bank of Cyprus Upgrade Signals Fresh Optimism For Greek And Cypriot Banks

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

June 26, 2026

Regional Banks Enter A More Favorable Cycle

Bank of Cyprus and Eurobank are well positioned to benefit from a renewed re-rating of Greek and Cypriot bank stocks, according to Cyprus-based investment firm Roemer Capital, which upgraded Bank of Cyprus to a buy rating and reaffirmed its positive view on Eurobank.

The firm cited easing geopolitical tensions, resilient economic growth in Greece and Cyprus, lower funding costs and Greece’s expected transition to developed-market status as the main factors supporting the sector.

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Roemer Capital also lowered its cost of equity assumptions, updated its forecasts following first-quarter 2026 results and extended its valuation horizon to the end of 2027, raising target prices across its banking coverage.

Bank Of Cyprus Gets The Largest Upgrade

Bank of Cyprus received the biggest revision, with Roemer Capital upgrading the stock from hold to buy and setting a target price of €11.10, implying potential total upside of 27%.

The firm highlighted the bank’s strong capital generation, profitability and projected 100% dividend payout, describing it as the strongest capital-return story among the banks under coverage. Roemer Capital maintained its buy rating on Eurobank, assigning a target price of €4.90 and forecasting potential upside of 28%. The report said the bank is well placed to benefit from loan growth, improving operating performance and merger-and-acquisition synergies.

National Bank of Greece and Piraeus Bank also retained buy ratings, with expected returns ranging from 25% to 36%. Optima Bank was upgraded to buy, while Alpha Bank remained at hold on valuation grounds.

Why Growth Still Sets The Region Apart

According to Roemer Capital, Greek and Cypriot banks continue to benefit from stronger economic fundamentals than many western European peers. The report pointed to faster economic growth, healthier balance sheets, low levels of non-performing exposures, capital ratios approaching 20% and strong customer deposit bases.

Analysts expect performing loans across the sector to grow at a compound annual rate of 6% to 8% through 2028, supported by private investment, digitalisation, green manufacturing, supply-chain expansion and a gradual recovery in household lending.

The report also said the conclusion of lending under the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility is unlikely to materially affect credit growth, as banks have already shifted back towards traditional commercial lending. Roemer Capital expects Euribor to remain between 2.2% and 2.5%, a level it believes should support both lending activity and net interest margins.

Geopolitics, Valuation And Market Structure Support The Case

The report said improving geopolitical conditions have strengthened the investment outlook, noting that Brent crude prices have largely returned to pre-war levels while Greek government bond yields have stabilised at around 3.5%. Although geopolitical risks remain, Roemer Capital believes the likelihood of a major inflationary shock or significant pressure on bank profitability has eased.

Another important catalyst identified by the firm is Greece’s expected promotion to developed-market status by FTSE Russell, STOXX and MSCI over the coming months.

According to the report, the reclassification should improve liquidity and attract a broader base of international investors. Roemer Capital also said Euronext’s acquisition of the Athens Exchange is expected to strengthen market infrastructure and increase international visibility, particularly for Bank of Cyprus and Optima Bank.

The firm noted that Bank of Cyprus has already benefited from its Athens listing, with average daily trading value increasing from less than €400,000 before its September 2024 move to nearly €6 million afterwards.

Economic Momentum Remains A Core Tailwind

Roemer Capital said both Greece and Cyprus have moved beyond post-crisis recovery and are now supported by private-sector-led growth. For Cyprus, the report highlighted recent tax reform and efforts to simplify the legal and regulatory framework, while also noting that limited foreign banking competition continues to support domestic lenders.

Overall, Roemer Capital expects Greek and Cypriot banks to remain well-positioned for profitable loan growth over the coming years.