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Christodoulides In Silicon Valley: Cyprus Courts Big Tech For Innovation And Investment

Fresh off discussions with Chevron in Houston over the Aphrodite gas field, President Nikos Christodoulides has landed in San Francisco, setting his sights on Silicon Valley. His mission? To position Cyprus as a leading hub for technology and innovation in the Eastern Mediterranean.

According to Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis, Christodoulides will engage with senior executives from OpenAI, Amazon, Google, Nvidia, Oracle, Tenstorrent, Plug & Play, Andreessen Horowitz, and Fortress Investment Group. The goal is clear: forge strategic partnerships, attract high-tech investments, and integrate Cyprus into global innovation networks.

Cyprus’ Tech Vision: A Gateway Between Continents

With a booming tech sector contributing over 14% to its GDP and annual growth rates between 15% and 17%, Cyprus is emerging as a formidable player in the European startup ecosystem. Ranked 8th in the EU and 15th globally in venture capital investments as a percentage of GDP, the country offers advanced digital infrastructure and a highly skilled workforce in ICT.

Leveraging its geographic position, Cyprus is pitching itself as the ideal bridge for tech companies eyeing expansion into the EU, the Middle East, and North Africa. The government’s broader strategy is to create a stable and innovation-friendly environment capable of attracting startups, research centers, and multinational high-tech firms.

High-Stakes Energy Talks In Houston

Before heading to California, Christodoulides met with Chevron CEO Mike Wirth and President of International Exploration and Production Clay Neff to discuss the strategic development of the Aphrodite gas field. The meeting emphasized the importance of timely execution, with Cyprus pushing for the swift implementation of the Development and Production Plan.

Following Cyprus’s approval of Chevron’s development roadmap, the next steps include seabed surveys starting this summer and preparations for a pipeline linking Aphrodite to Egypt. With a Host Government Agreement on the horizon and Chevron being the only energy giant operating across Cyprus, Israel, Egypt, and Greece, the company plays a pivotal role in regional energy security.

Chevron reaffirmed its commitment to Cyprus, positioning the Aphrodite gas field as a key asset in its Eastern Mediterranean portfolio. Christodoulides, in turn, underscored the project’s significance—not just for Cyprus, but for bolstering Europe’s energy diversification efforts.

A Strategic Push For Global Partnerships

Accompanied by Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation, and Digital Policy Nikodemos Damianou, Deputy Minister to the President Irini Piki, and Invest Cyprus President Evgenios Evgeniou, Christodoulides’ trip underscores Cyprus’s strategic push to deepen ties with global tech and investment leaders.

By engaging Silicon Valley’s most influential players, Cyprus is making a bold move to secure its future as a high-tech investment hub—one that bridges continents, fosters innovation, and strengthens its role in global markets.

Cyprus Construction Price Index Rises Amid Cost Pressures

The latest data from the Cyprus Statistical Service (Cystat) shows that the Price Index of Construction Materials in Cyprus reached 118.89 points in January 2026, based on a 2021 average of 100. Compared with December 2025, the index increased by 0.12%, indicating gradual price adjustments across the sector.

Year-Over-Year Growth

On an annual basis, the index recorded a 1.09% increase compared with January of the previous year. The rise reflects ongoing changes in contractor costs and highlights evolving market conditions within the construction industry.

Commodity-Specific Movements

The report provides a detailed breakdown by material category. Minerals recorded the strongest annual increase at 2.91%, followed by electromechanical products at 2.55%. Products made from wood, insulation materials, chemicals and plastics rose by 1.19%, while mineral products increased by 0.97%. In contrast, metallic products declined by 0.49%.

Volatility In Sub-Categories

More pronounced changes were observed within specific sub-categories. Mineral aggregates rose by 8.34%, while stones increased by 4.97% compared with January 2025. Electrical fixtures posted a 4.65% increase. Iron and steel products declined by 1.73%, and ceramics and cement continued to trend lower, falling by 1.47% and 1.38% respectively.

Methodological Insights

The index is calculated as a weighted average based on the expenditure share of sampled materials during the 2021 base year. Prices are collected monthly from a range of suppliers, using the 15th of each month as the reference date and excluding VAT. The Construction Costs Index applies specifically to new residential buildings.

This detailed analysis not only sheds light on current market trends but also offers stakeholders a robust framework for understanding the underlying cost dynamics in Cyprus’s construction materials market.

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