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Cyprus Advances As A Strategic Hub Connecting Europe With Regional Markets

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

March 2, 2026

Robust Economic Growth Driven By Services And Investment

Cyprus is recording steady economic growth in 2026, supported by services exports, foreign direct investment, and cross-border business activity. The European Commission’s Winter 2026 Forecast points to continued expansion driven mainly by services and private consumption.

A Strategic Gateway To Global Markets

With full access to the EU single market and a competitive institutional framework, Cyprus is positioning itself as a base for international business and capital flows. The island is increasingly used as an entry point to both the European Union and neighbouring regions, according to Invest Cyprus.

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Institutional Credibility And Fiscal Discipline

Cyprus received credit rating upgrades from Moody’s, S&P, and Fitch in 2024 and 2025, reflecting fiscal discipline and banking-sector stability. Eurostat data show that GDP growth has remained above the euro area average in recent years.

Policy changes have also supported the investment environment. The abolition of the immovable property tax in 2017, reforms in the land registry system, and strengthened supervision by the Central Bank of Cyprus and the ECB’s Single Supervisory Mechanism contributed to market stability.

Competitive Tax Policy And Digital Innovation

Cyprus maintains a 15% corporate tax rate aligned with the global minimum tax framework, one of the lowest in the EU. Additional incentives include dividend and securities gains exemptions for non-residents, zero withholding tax on outbound payments, and a 5% tax rate on foreign pensions.

The technology sector is expanding, particularly in software development, fintech, and cybersecurity, according to a KPMG Cyprus study. International tech companies have established operations on the island, supported by initiatives from TechIsland and government incentives such as streamlined work permits, a Digital Nomad Visa, and a 50% tax exemption for non-resident employees earning above €55,000.

Challenges Of A Rapidly Transforming Market

Despite these positive developments, challenges remain. The reliance on services and internationally mobile capital necessitates continuous adaptation to evolving OECD and EU tax regulations. The transformation into a service and technology hub raises essential questions about long-term institutional stability and the need for sustained investment in human capital.

Housing Market Pressures And Social Cohesion

The real estate market vividly reflects these economic trends. Data from the CBC Residential Property Price Index indicates persistent increases in property values, particularly in urban areas where the influx of high-income foreign executives has intensified demand. This dynamic has fostered a dual housing market that caters to affluent expatriates while limiting options for residents. As affordability pressures mount, particularly for younger Cypriots, the broader implications for social cohesion become increasingly apparent.

Strategic Recommendations For Sustainable Growth

Looking ahead, experts advocate a more comprehensive strategy that balances competitive advantages with regulatory resilience. Key recommendations include expanding the supply of affordable housing, incentivizing mid-market residential development, and bolstering local entrepreneurship to ensure domestic firms can retain and attract skilled labour. Furthermore, heightened investment in education and training, as emphasized in Cyprus’ Recovery And Resilience Plan (RRP), is crucial for translating economic gains into broad-based prosperity.

Conclusion

Cyprus continues to strengthen its role as a service and technology-driven economy. Long-term performance will depend on maintaining investment attractiveness while addressing structural challenges such as housing affordability, workforce development, and regulatory adaptation.

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payabl. Launches Click To Pay With Visa To Help Merchants Improve Checkout Conversion And Reduce Fraud

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

April 17, 2026

payabl. has launched Click to Pay with Visa, a new card payment experience designed to help merchants reduce checkout friction, improve authorisation rates, and deliver a faster, more secure online payment journey.

Click to Pay replaces manual card number entry with a token-based checkout experience. Once a customer’s card is enrolled, they can complete purchases in just a few clicks, without re-entering card details. The result is a faster checkout that mirrors the ease of contactless payments in-store, while maintaining strong security standards.

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For merchants, the impact is measurable. According to Visa, Click to Pay can deliver up to a 11% uplift in authorisation rates compared to manual card entry, alongside significant fraud reduction through network tokenisation. Faster checkout also helps reduce cart abandonment, particularly on mobile, where typing card details remains a major source of friction.

“With online checkout, every extra step costs conversion,” said Breno Oliveira, Chief Product Officer at payabl. “Visa Click to Pay removes one of the biggest points of friction at the moment of purchase. It helps merchants approve more legitimate transactions, reduce fraud exposure, and give customers the experience they already expect.”

Visa Click to Pay is available through payabl. checkout, enabling merchants to activate the service without additional integration complexity. The solution works across devices and supports existing security flows, including 3D Secure where required.

“Consumers have come to expect a highly personalised, intuitive, and seamless payment experience, whether they’re buying a coffee, shopping online, or applying for a loan. Visa Click to Pay aims to meet these expectations by removing the need to manually enter card details, thus enhancing both security and the consumer experience in online card payments. With the support of network tokens, Visa Click to Pay enabled a more secure and smoother transaction process, available in many countries around the world. According to European VisaNet data, Visa Click to Pay may allow a 4.5% uplift in merchant sales, meaning a possible annual increase of €51 bn in SMB eCommerce sales in the UK and EU,” said Michael Ioannides, Country Manager, Visa Cyprus.

The launch forms part of payabl.’s broader focus on checkout optimisation, helping merchants improve conversion, approvals, and payment reliability at scale. Click to Pay with Visa is now live for eligible merchants across Europe.

Checkout expectations are rising across Europe

Insights from payabl.’s State of European Checkouts report underline why frictionless checkout experiences are becoming a commercial priority. The research found that consumers cite speed (46%), convenience (44%), and security (41%) as the top reasons for choosing a payment method. More than half of consumers (53%) are open to switching to newer payment methods and nearly half (48%) are open to one-click checkouts, provided the solution is backed by a trusted brand such as Visa.

“Checkout is no longer just the final step of a transaction,” said Oliveira. “It is a critical part of the overall customer experience. Our research shows that 43% of European consumers will not return to a site after a poor checkout experience. For merchants across the UK and Europe, that translates directly into lost customers and lost revenue.”