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Evel Elects New President As Maria Theocharous Takes Over For 2026–2029 Term

Maria Theocharous has been elected president of the Limassol Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Evel), taking over from Yiannis Tsouloftas for a three-year term covering 2026–2029. Theocharous previously served as the chamber’s vice-president for tourism.

The leadership transition marks a new chapter for one of Cyprus’ main regional business organisations, with the new board set to represent the district’s key economic sectors.

New Leadership Emphasises Cooperation

The chamber’s annual meeting brought together government, business and local authority representatives, including Energy, Commerce and Industry Minister Michael Damianos, Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Keve) president Stavros Stavrou, Limassol district local government organisation president Yiannis Tsouloftas and Limassol mayor Yiannis Armeftis.

Speakers highlighted the importance of closer cooperation between public authorities and businesses in supporting Limassol’s economic development.

Representatives of the Cyprus Shipping Chamber (CSC) also congratulated Theocharous on her election and thanked the outgoing president for his cooperation. The CSC described Evel as a longstanding partner, noting the chamber’s contribution to Limassol’s business development over more than six decades.

Tsouloftas Reviews Six Years As President

In his final address, Tsouloftas reviewed the chamber’s work between 2020 and 2026, highlighting its advocacy for major infrastructure projects and efforts to address development challenges across the district.

He also outlined initiatives to remove obstacles facing local businesses, accelerate development plans and improve the conditions for economic activity.

Tsouloftas will remain involved as immediate past president, providing continuity during the transition.

New Board Covers Key Business Sectors

The new board includes representatives responsible for the chamber’s main portfolios:

  • Ilikos Charalambous, vice-president for commerce
  • Vasos Demetriades, vice-president for industry
  • Christos Nicolaou, vice-president for services
  • Nicolas Agiomamitis, vice-president for tourism
  • Ilias Theodorou, vice-president for finance
  • Demosthenes Mavrellis, vice-president for innovation and technology
  • Ilias Neocleous, honorary secretary

Other board members are Minos Agathocleous, Marios Antoniou, George Demetriou, Anastasios Kounoudis, Marios Constantinou, Xanthos Nemptsas, Antonis Pappas, Charalambos Pattichis, Chrysis Petousis, Farah Shammas, Andreas Tsouloftas and Kyriacos Hadjiathanasiou.

Costas Ioannides, Agathi Katsi, Anna Petraki, Filippos Filis and Tonis Hadjiloucas have been appointed members by distinction. The chamber also highlighted the growing participation of women in business leadership and decision-making.

Chamber Recognises Longstanding Contributions

The annual meeting also recognised businesses and individuals for their contributions, including members who have maintained continuous membership for 50 years.

Tributes were paid to three former contributors to the chamber, Tonis Antoniou, Dimi Mavropoulos and Andreas Laou, in recognition of their service.

Under Theocharous’ leadership, Evel begins its 2026–2029 term with a board covering commerce, industry, services, tourism, finance and innovation. Its priorities include continuing to represent Limassol businesses and advocating for the investment and cooperation needed to support the district’s economic growth.

EU Household Energy Prices Fall, But Higher Bills Could Follow In 2027

Household electricity and gas prices declined across the European Union in the first half of 2026, but the trend may not last. Rising wholesale energy costs following the escalation of conflict in the Middle East could push household bills higher later this year and into 2027.

According to Eurostat, electricity prices varied more than threefold across EU countries. Ireland recorded the highest rates in euro terms, while Hungary had the lowest. Adjusting for purchasing power, however, placed Romania at the top of the ranking.

Electricity Prices Vary Widely Across Europe

In the first half of 2026, household electricity prices, including taxes, ranged from €6.60 per 100 kWh in Turkey to €38.70 in Ireland across 38 European countries. Hungary had the lowest price in the EU, at €11.40, compared with the EU average of €28.30.

Germany (€36.20), Belgium (€35.80), Austria (€32.60), Italy (€31.40) and Sweden (€30.60) also recorded prices above the EU average. Spain (€25.10) and France (€24.90) were below it.

After adjusting for purchasing power standards (PPS), Romania recorded the highest electricity price, at 46.9 PPS per 100 kWh, followed by Poland (41.1) and Czechia (34.3). Iceland had the lowest adjusted price at 12.6, followed by Turkey (13.5), Malta (13.8) and Hungary (14.7).

Among the EU’s four largest economies, Italy had the highest adjusted price at 32.8, closely followed by Germany at 32.4. Spain stood at 28.0, near the EU average of 28.4, while France recorded 23.3.

Electricity Prices Decline, But National Trends Differ

EU electricity prices fell by an average of 2.2% compared with the second half of 2025. Finland recorded the largest increase, at 19.5%, followed by Turkey (11.2%), Poland and Lithuania (10.6% each), and Sweden (10.4%). Denmark and Luxembourg saw the sharpest declines, at 28.2% and 24.1%.

Prices fell in Germany by 6.5%, Spain by 6% and France by 3%, while Italy recorded a 5.9% increase. Year on year, the EU average declined by 1.6%. Romania had the largest increase, at 51.9%, followed by Turkey (35%), Ireland (19.8%) and Finland (18.4%). Prices declined in all four of the EU’s largest economies: France (-7%), Germany (-5.7%), Italy (-4.5%) and Spain (-3.9%).

National taxation, network charges, energy sources and supplier pricing help explain these differences. Professor Xiaoyi Mu, director of the Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy at the University of Dundee, has highlighted the significant role of taxes and network costs in household bills.

For example, Denmark temporarily reduced its electricity tax by around €0.10 per kWh from January 1, 2026, while Finland introduced no comparable relief. Energy market intelligence firm VaasaETT, which helps compile the Household Energy Price Index, also identifies national energy mixes, tariff structures and the allocation of system costs as important factors.

Sweden Records Europe’s Highest Household Gas Prices

Household gas prices ranged from €1.60 per 100 kWh in Georgia to €22 in Sweden across 29 European countries. Hungary had the lowest price in the EU, at €3.30, compared with the EU average of €11.

The Netherlands recorded €16.20, followed by France (€13.50), Portugal (€12.60) and Austria (€12.40). Germany (€11.60) and Italy (€11.40) were also above the EU average, while Spain stood at €7.90.

After adjusting for purchasing power, North Macedonia had the highest gas price, at 20.8 PPS per 100 kWh, followed by Sweden (17.7) and Portugal (15.0). Hungary recorded the lowest figure at 4.3, ahead of Turkey (5.0), Luxembourg (6.6) and Croatia (6.8).

EU household gas prices fell by an average of 10.2% compared with the second half of 2025. Italy recorded the largest decline, at 23.2%, followed by Spain (17.6%) and Greece (16%). Turkey saw the largest increase, at 12.9%, while prices in Romania rose by 6.3%.

Year on year, EU gas prices declined by 3.5%. France was the only one of the four largest EU economies to record an increase, at 3.7%.

Higher Wholesale Costs Could Reach Households In 2027

The first-half figures capture only the initial months following the start of US and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February. Higher wholesale energy costs may take months to appear in household bills.

“There is always a lag between the benchmark wholesale natural gas price (TTF) and the prices paid by households,” Mu told Euronews Business. Depending on the structure of national retail markets, the delay can range from several months to more than a year.

Fixed-price contracts and advance energy purchases by suppliers can postpone the impact of wholesale market changes on household tariffs.

Mu also noted that falling wholesale gas prices had helped reduce household costs in the first half of 2026. Europe’s benchmark wholesale gas price declined by 19% in the second half of 2025 compared with the first half of that year, and was 14% lower than in the second half of 2024.

However, the subsequent increase linked to the Middle East conflict could reverse some of that relief. Mu warned that household bills may rise in the second half of 2026, with a greater impact in the first half of 2027.

Recent data already indicate upward pressure. Across European capitals tracked by the Household Energy Price Index, gas prices rose by an average of 12% between February 2 and September 1, while electricity prices increased by 4.2%. The October update recorded electricity price increases in 21 of 33 monitored capitals and gas price increases in 14 of the 27 capitals with available data.

DISY Calls For Faster AI Adoption In Cyprus To Boost Business Competitiveness

Cyprus needs to move beyond announcing artificial intelligence ambitions and focus on integrating the technology into businesses, public services and the wider economy, Democratic Rally (DISY) president Annita Demetriou said.

Speaking at a press conference titled “Artificial Intelligence, Competitiveness and Economic Growth”, Demetriou warned that Cyprus risks falling behind despite strong public interest in AI.

Cyprus Faces An AI Adoption Gap

More than four in 10 people in Cyprus used AI in the previous year, placing the country among Europe’s leaders in individual adoption. However, local businesses rank near the bottom in AI use, while citizens also lag in advanced digital skills.

“The problem is not the people or the businesses. It is the policy gap. And policy must close it,” Demetriou said.

She criticised the government’s ambition to make Cyprus a regional AI hub, arguing that it lacks sufficient planning for energy demand, clear budget commitments and effective workforce reskilling measures.

Six Priorities To Accelerate AI Adoption

DISY outlined six priorities to turn AI into a driver of economic growth:

  1. Reskill Workers: Establish funded training programmes supported by tax incentives.
  2. Support Businesses: Offer tax incentives and exemptions to encourage AI integration.
  3. Attract Investment: Bring international companies with significant AI operations to Cyprus.
  4. Modernise Public Services: Connect government systems, reduce bureaucracy and improve services.
  5. Secure Affordable Energy: Ensure sufficient capacity and competitive electricity prices for digital infrastructure and data centres.
  6. Protect Rights: Safeguard personal data, privacy and human rights through effective oversight.

“Our answer is not to stop technology. Our answer is to ensure no one is left behind. Reskilling becomes a social policy priority,” Demetriou said.

Public-Sector Reform Is Essential

Konstantinos Mountoukkos, who oversees digital policy, research and innovation on DISY’s Council for Monitoring Government Work, argued that AI adoption requires changes to public administration, not just new technology.

He called for secure interoperability between government systems, a move from pilot projects to practical implementation and stronger safeguards against inaccurate outputs, privacy breaches and cybersecurity threats.

Mountoukkos also urged the government to modernise technology procurement. Digital projects should have clear objectives, timelines and measurable results, including their cost, time savings and impact on public services.

Skills Will Determine Cyprus’s Competitiveness

Michalis Ioannidis, head of DISY’s Council for Monitoring Government Work, described AI adoption as a social policy priority. DISY spokesperson Onoufrios Koullas warned that without adequate training, Cyprus could lose ground in workforce productivity and economic competitiveness.

The party said it would present further proposals on managing the risks associated with AI and digital life at a future press conference.

The central challenge for Cyprus is to turn public interest in AI into wider business adoption, a more skilled workforce and measurable improvements in public services.

Cyprus Targets 3,000 AI Professionals By 2032 As Leaders Warn Of A New Digital Divide

Cyprus aims to develop at least 3,000 artificial intelligence professionals by 2032, while expanding access to AI skills and technology across businesses and society. Government officials and industry leaders have warned that without broader adoption, the technology could deepen existing inequalities and concentrate economic power.

The issue was discussed at the 22nd Annual Economist Cyprus Summit in Nicosia during a session titled “Artificial Intelligence: Driving Growth or Deepening Inequality?”, featuring Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy Nicodemos Damianou and Greece’s Secretary-General for Information Systems and Digital Governance, Demosthenes Anagnostopoulos.

Cyprus Introduces Three AI Skills Initiatives

Damianou outlined three initiatives aimed at strengthening AI literacy and preparing workers for changes in the labour market.

The AI Literacy Framework will introduce artificial intelligence and critical thinking into schools while keeping teachers in control of the learning process. A National AI Skills Observatory will align training with labour-market needs, while FutureAI CY will provide reskilling programmes for workers and small businesses.

Together, these initiatives form what Damianou called a “Social Contract for AI”, intended to ensure that technology “empowers people rather than silently replacing them”.

He stressed that access to AI models and shared computing infrastructure would be essential to preventing the technology’s benefits from being concentrated among a small number of large providers.

“The bottleneck is not the machine. It is our organizations,” Damianou said, arguing that productivity gains depend on how effectively businesses and public institutions adapt their operations.

“AI will drive growth. Whether it widens inequalities is a matter of choice, and we have time to act,” he added.

AI Adoption Gap Risks Widening Inequality

Anagnostopoulos warned that the gap between organisations able to use AI effectively and those falling behind could become a major source of economic inequality.

While AI has considerable potential to increase productivity, its benefits could remain concentrated among a limited number of companies and economies. Governments, he argued, should act not only as regulators but also as enablers of adoption across the public and private sectors.

Figures cited during the discussion highlighted the uneven pace of adoption. In 2025, an estimated 50% to 55% of large European businesses used AI tools, compared with just 17% of small businesses.

Adoption also varied significantly between countries, reaching around 42% among businesses in Denmark but remaining close to 9% in Greece and Cyprus.

Greece Expands Access Through Training And Infrastructure

Anagnostopoulos highlighted Greece’s efforts to broaden access to digital tools, including 60,000 licences distributed to public-sector employees and training for 30,000 workers. Free training programmes have also been made available to the wider public.

The country is investing in computing infrastructure through the Daedalus supercomputer, ranked 31st globally, which is expected to begin providing AI services, training and model-running capabilities the following month.

He also pointed to the Pharos ecosystem, designed to support model development and encourage wider AI adoption.

The discussion underlined a shared challenge for Cyprus and Greece: investment in AI infrastructure must go hand in hand with skills development, broader access and organisational changes that allow businesses and public institutions to use the technology effectively.

HELLENiQ ENERGY Plans More Than €1 Billion Investment In Romania By 2030

HELLENiQ ENERGY plans to invest more than €1 billion in Romania by 2030, expanding its renewable energy and battery storage operations as it seeks to strengthen its position across south-eastern Europe.

The programme supports the group’s medium-term goal of exceeding 2 gigawatts of installed renewable energy capacity by 2030, the company said.

Building A Renewable Energy Portfolio

Through its subsidiary HELLENiQ Renewables, the group currently operates 211 megawatts of photovoltaic projects in Romania. A 96MW wind farm is also under construction, with completion scheduled for the second quarter of 2027.

Beyond its operating assets and the wind project, HELLENiQ ENERGY’s Romanian development portfolio includes more than 800MW of renewable energy projects and 500MW of battery energy storage systems.

Storage And Grid Flexibility

The planned investments are expected to support Romania’s energy security and help integrate a larger share of renewable electricity into the national power system.

Energy storage can help balance fluctuations in renewable generation, while additional capacity and flexibility can strengthen the grid’s ability to accommodate more clean power. HELLENiQ ENERGY said its projects would contribute to the resilience and flexibility of Romania’s electricity network.

A Broader Regional Strategy

The Romanian expansion is part of HELLENiQ ENERGY’s wider effort to build a diversified energy portfolio across south-eastern Europe. Renewable generation and energy storage are central to the group’s growth strategy as it pursues its 2030 capacity target.

Cyprus Banks Offer Lower Deposit Rates But Cheaper Housing Loans

Banks in Cyprus continued to offer lower returns on deposits than the eurozone average in September 2026, while households taking out new housing loans benefited from lower borrowing costs. Figures published by the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC) also reveal significant differences between banks, particularly in interest rates on smaller business loans.

Deposit Rates Remain Below Eurozone Average

The average interest rate on new household term deposits with a maturity of up to one year stood at 1.62% in Cyprus, compared with 2.33% across the euro area. For non-financial corporations, the average was 1.70%, against 2.46% in the eurozone.

Among the banks listed by the CBC, Ancoria Bank offered the highest rate on household deposits of up to one year, at 1.88%, followed by National Bank of Greece (Cyprus) at 1.83% and Eurobank at 1.70%. Alpha Bank Cyprus offered 1.60%, Cyprus Development Bank 1.57%, Societe Generale Bank Cyprus 1.52% and Bank of Cyprus 1.34%. The Housing Finance Corporation recorded the lowest rate, at 0.99%.

For corporate deposits, Alpha Bank Cyprus led with 1.98%, narrowly ahead of National Bank of Greece (Cyprus) at 1.96%. Eurobank offered 1.75%, followed by Cyprus Development Bank at 1.57% and Bank of Cyprus at 1.31%. The Housing Finance Corporation recorded 0.99%, while Societe Generale Bank Cyprus offered 0.90%.

Housing Loans Cost Less Than Eurozone Average

Households taking out new housing loans in Cyprus faced an average interest rate of 3.24% in September, below the eurozone average of 3.64%.

Alpha Bank Cyprus offered the lowest rate among the listed institutions, at 2.80%, followed by Eurobank at 3.21%. Ancoria Bank recorded 3.27% and Bank of Cyprus 3.37%, while the Housing Finance Corporation had the highest rate, at 3.55%.

Business Loan Rates Vary Across Banks

Interest rates on new business loans depended on the amount borrowed. For loans of up to €1 million, the average rate in Cyprus was 4.67%.

Alpha Bank Cyprus offered 4.28%, followed by Eurobank at 4.34% and National Bank of Greece (Cyprus) at 4.40%. Bank of Cyprus recorded 4.86%, while Societe Generale Bank Cyprus charged 5.70%. The highest rates in this category were reported by Banque SBA at 7.46% and Cyprus Development Bank at 7.90%.

For loans exceeding €1 million, the average rate was lower, at 4.15%. Alpha Bank Cyprus recorded the lowest rate, at 3.81%, followed by Bank of Cyprus at 4.22%, Eurobank at 4.42%, Ancoria Bank at 4.44% and National Bank of Greece (Cyprus) at 4.59%.

The figures highlight considerable differences in borrowing costs between lenders, particularly for smaller businesses. Actual rates offered to borrowers may also depend on individual loan characteristics.

Data Cover New Deposits And Loans

The CBC figures relate to new deposit and lending business conducted in September 2026. They do not cover the outstanding stock of existing deposits and loans, which may carry different interest rates.

Cyprus Residents’ Overseas Travel Spending Rises 22% To €2.5 Billion In 2025

Residents of Cyprus travelled more frequently and spent more on trips in 2025, with overseas travel expenditure reaching €2.53 billion, up 22.2% year on year. Domestic travel spending also increased significantly, rising by 28.6% to €385.9 million.

The figures point to stronger travel activity both within Cyprus and abroad, although the number of residents travelling exclusively within the country declined.

More Residents Travelled Abroad

The number of residents who travelled only abroad rose by 19.8%, from 169,525 in 2024 to 203,102 in 2025. A further 215,528 residents travelled both within Cyprus and overseas, an increase of 2.9%.

Trips abroad totalled 1,957,292, up 12% from 1,747,492 in 2024. Personal travel, including holidays and visits to family and friends, accounted for 83.3% of overseas trips, while business travel represented 16.7%.

Rented accommodation, including hotels, guesthouses and campsites, was used on 75.9% of trips abroad. The remaining 24.1% involved non-rented accommodation.

Domestic Trips Increase By Nearly 15%

The total number of trips within Cyprus increased by 14.7%, from 1,619,371 in 2024 to 1,858,029 in 2025.

Personal reasons accounted for 96.1% of domestic trips, including holidays, visits to relatives and friends, health-related travel and pilgrimages.

Rented accommodation was used on 57.5% of domestic trips, while the remaining 42.5% involved non-rented options such as second homes or stays with family and friends.

Travel Spending Rises At Home And Abroad

Domestic travel expenditure reached €385.9 million in 2025, an annual increase of 28.6%. Accommodation accounted for 36.8% of spending, closely followed by food and drinks at restaurants and cafés, at 36.5%. Transport represented 8.6%, while other expenses made up 18.1%.

Spending on overseas trips climbed 22.2% to €2.531 billion. Transport was the largest expense category, accounting for 35.2% of the total. Accommodation represented 23.3%, food and drinks at restaurants and cafés 23.1%, and other expenses 18.4%.

Overall, the figures show that Cyprus residents increased both their travel activity and expenditure in 2025, with overseas trips continuing to account for the largest share of travel spending.

Nearly 80% Of Cyprus’ Foreign Investment Came From Outside EU In 2025

Cyprus had the highest share of foreign direct investment (FDI) originating outside the European Union among 14 EU member states reporting data for 2025. According to Eurostat, non-EU economies accounted for 79.4% of the island’s inward FDI, highlighting its distinct position among the reporting countries.

The figures contrast with most other EU economies, where investment from within the bloc remains the main source of foreign capital.

Cyprus Leads In Non-EU Investment Share

Eurostat measures inward FDI positions by the ultimate investing economy, identifying the economy where the investment ultimately originates rather than only the country through which it is channelled. This distinction is important when investments involve subsidiaries or intermediary holding companies.

In nine of the 14 reporting countries, most foreign investment came from within the EU. The Czech Republic recorded the highest intra-EU share, at 75.1%, followed by Romania at 73.3% and Estonia at 64.8%.

Cyprus was among five countries where non-EU economies accounted for more than half of inward FDI. Spain, Sweden, Greece and Denmark also recorded shares above 50%, ranging from 51% to 55.1%.

US Is The Largest Source Of FDI Across Reporting Countries

Across the 14 countries collectively, the United States was the largest ultimate source of foreign direct investment, accounting for 15.4% of the total.

Germany ranked second at 11.5%, followed by France at 9.4%, the United Kingdom at 9.3% and Switzerland at 5.8%.

These figures reflect the combined investment positions of the reporting countries and do not identify Cyprus’s leading individual investment sources. However, the country-level data underline the island’s strong reliance on capital originating outside the European Union.

Cyprus Makes Progress on Financial Security and Homicide Rates

Households in Cyprus are becoming better equipped to absorb unexpected costs, but financial strain remains widespread. In 2025, nearly one in three residents said they could not meet an unforeseen expense, while separate figures show the country’s recorded homicide rate has declined over the past decade.

The data, published by Eurostat, offer two distinct measures of security: households’ financial resilience and the incidence of serious violent crime.

Financial Resilience Is Improving, but Gaps Remain

In Cyprus, 32% of people were unable to cope with unexpected financial expenses in 2025. That was down from 34.8% in 2024 and well below the 46.7% recorded in 2019.

The improvement has been steady. The share fell to 43.7% in 2020, 42.1% in 2021 and 40.3% in 2022. It continued to decline, reaching 37.5% in 2023 before dropping below 35% the following year.

Even so, Cyprus remained above the European Union average. Across the bloc, 29.2% of people said they could not meet an unexpected expense in 2025, compared with 30% in 2024.

Sharp Contrasts Across the European Union

Greece recorded the EU’s highest share in 2025, at 50.5%, followed by Latvia at 43.7% and Bulgaria at 42.4%. The Greek figure rose sharply from 43.9% in 2024, reversing a period of improvement after a seven-year high of 50.7% in 2020.

By contrast, the Netherlands had the lowest proportion of residents unable to meet unexpected expenses, at 15.3%. Malta and the Czech Republic followed, both at 18.7%.

The differences underline how unevenly households across Europe are positioned to absorb a financial shock. A car repair, medical bill or temporary loss of income can be manageable for one household and destabilizing for another.

Financial and Physical Safety Both Shape Security

Eurostat notes that the ability to handle unforeseen expenses can contribute to a sense of security and affect quality of life. Economic security also depends on meeting regular payments, while physical safety—including protection from crime and violence—is another important dimension.

Separate figures on police-recorded intentional homicides show that Cyprus recorded 0.93 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants in 2024, down from 1.17 in 2014. Greece also recorded a decline over the same period, from 0.96 to 0.78 per 100,000 inhabitants.

Homicide Rates Vary Widely Across Europe

Lithuania had the EU’s highest recorded homicide rate in 2024, at 2.63 per 100,000 inhabitants. Latvia followed at 2.40 and Estonia at 1.82. Despite leading the ranking, Lithuania also recorded the largest reduction in its rate compared with 2014, with the figure falling by more than half.

Luxembourg recorded the lowest rate, at 0.30 per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Italy at 0.57 and the Czech Republic at 0.63.

Taken together, the figures point to gradual progress in Cyprus on both household financial resilience and recorded homicide rates. But the financial data also show that a significant share of the population remains exposed to unexpected costs—a reminder that improvement in national indicators does not eliminate pressure on individual households.

Eurobank Plans New Financing Facility For Cyprus Farmers’ CAP Investments

Eurobank plans to introduce a financing facility for Cyprus’ agricultural sector in the first quarter of 2027, giving farmers and livestock producers a way to fund investments approved for support under the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

The bank outlined the proposal at this year’s Pancyprian Milk, Agriculture and Livestock Conference in Nicosia, which it supported. The event brought together stakeholders to examine the primary sector’s challenges and prospects for growth.

Bridging The Gap Between Investment And Grant Payment

The proposed facility is intended to address a common cash-flow problem: CAP beneficiaries may receive approval for a subsidy but lack the upfront capital needed to carry out the investment while they wait for the grant payment.

Speaking at the conference, Andreas Papadopoulos, Head of Eurobank’s Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Unit, discussed the sector’s potential and the role financing can play in supporting investments that raise productivity and competitiveness.

According to the bank, the new instrument would finance the period between implementation of an approved investment and payment of the corresponding subsidy. That could enable eligible farmers, livestock producers and other beneficiaries to start projects without waiting for grant funds to arrive.

Unlocking Investment In The Primary Sector

Papadopoulos said limited access to capital has long delayed or prevented important agricultural investments. By providing financing on favourable terms, the proposed facility is intended to help producers move ahead sooner and make fuller use of CAP support.

The initiative comes as Cyprus’ agricultural and livestock sectors face broader pressures while also weighing opportunities in modernisation, technology adoption and stronger biosecurity measures.

Modernisation And The Future Of Dairy Farming

Conference discussions included upgrading sheep and goat farming and dairy cattle production, as well as protecting the sustainability and growth prospects of halloumi’s protected designation of origin (PDO) status.

Eurobank said its support for farmers and livestock producers reflects a longstanding commitment to the primary sector. The bank highlighted agriculture’s contribution to the economy, food security, regional development and the vitality of local communities.

If introduced as planned, the facility could help bridge a practical financing gap for producers with approved investments—supporting projects that might otherwise be delayed while subsidy payments are pending.

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