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Grant Scheme Announced To Strengthen New Business Activity In British Bases Areas

A second announcement of a grant scheme to strengthen new business activity in areas within the British Bases has been approved by the Council of Ministers following a proposal by the Minister of Energy, Trade and Industry George Papanastasiou.

According to a press release by the Ministry, the scheme, which was prepared for equal treatment of citizens of the Republic, aims to develop, support and promote entrepreneurship, placing an emphasis on specific groups, such as young people and women, who wish to be active in business in the sectors of manufacturing, services and tourism, making use of their knowledge, experience, training and talents.

The grant will be up to 70% for young men and women aged 18-29 years, while for men aged 30-50 and women aged 30-55, it will be up to 60%. The grant is calculated on the cost of the eligible costs of the investment (equipment, special facilities, construction, purchase and renovation/configuration of building spaces, promotion and other expenses), with a maximum eligible budget per company of €120,000.

The total budget to be allocated for the needs of the 2nd announcement of the scheme amounts to €500,000 and comes from the state budget.

Those interested can obtain the scheme guide, which contains all the details, the list of supporting documents, as well as other required forms or documents, from the Ministry’s website and, particularly, from the website of the Industry and Technology Service.

It is noted that the applications/proposals from the beneficiaries will only be submitted through the electronic system of sponsorship plans of the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry, in a specific period that will be determined in the relevant call for proposals, which will be announced in the next period.

For more information, those interested can contact the relevant officials at 22867178/156/317/109/194.

New Decrees For Blue Card And Foreign Students: Key Changes And Implications

The Ministry of Labor and Social Insurance has announced a series of new measures aimed at addressing the increasing demands of Cyprus’ labor market. These initiatives are designed to attract highly skilled professionals from third countries and broaden employment opportunities for foreign students in select fields, as outlined in the recent Decrees published in the Official Gazette of the Republic.

Attracting Skilled Professionals

One of the key updates is the introduction of a minimum annual salary for foreign professionals, which has been set at €43,632, 1.5 times the average gross annual salary in Cyprus. This salary threshold applies to individuals coming to work in sectors such as Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), pharmaceuticals for research purposes, and maritime industries (excluding skippers and crew).

Expanded Employment Options For Foreign Students

The new regulations also provide an update on the employment rights of foreign students. From December 2024, students from third countries will be able to work in Cyprus, with the new rules replacing the previous March 2024 start date.

Students studying ICT who have completed their first academic semester will be eligible to work in occupations related to their field of study, thereby gaining practical experience while pursuing their education.

In response to critical sector shortages, the regulations also clarify the specific occupations and salaries that Blue Card holders—third-country nationals—will be eligible for in Cyprus. The Blue Card, in line with the European Directive, allows highly skilled professionals to live and work in EU member states.

Strengthening The Labor Market and Economy

These updates are expected to bolster the supply of specialized workers in key sectors, addressing existing gaps and promoting the continued growth of Cyprus’ economy. At the same time, the new measures offer foreign students enhanced opportunities for professional development, facilitating their seamless integration into the country’s workforce.

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