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Cyprus And India Chart A New Era In Bilateral Trade And Investment

From Diplomacy To Dynamic Commerce

The recent high-profile summit in Mumbai, which brought together more than 450 industry leaders, marks a decisive shift in the landscape of bilateral trade between Cyprus and India. Delegates transformed diplomatic goodwill into strategic commercial ventures, setting the stage for enhanced cooperation across technology, shipping, and financial services.

Gateway To Europe And Beyond

Industry experts agree that the summit catalyzed a tangible movement toward practical cross-border trade and investment. According to InBusiness, Indian investors now see Cyprus as an attractive and secure base for expanding their footprint into the European Union. Chrysilios Pelekanos of PwC Cyprus emphasized that Cyprus offers a safe haven for Indian enterprises, combining complementary market dynamics with a robust legal environment.

Strategic Sectors And Geostrategic Bridges

The synergy between Cyprus and India is particularly evident in high-growth sectors such as AI, research and development, financial services, and green shipping. Petros Mavrommatis from KPMG Cyprus noted that the island is emerging as a crucial geostrategic bridge linking India with both the Middle East and Europe, especially within the strategic IMEC corridor framework.

Institutional Support And Future Opportunities

With a surge in interest from Indian firms in investment funds, regional headquarters, and real estate, Cyprus’s common-law framework and widespread use of English enhance its appeal. In response, Bank of Cyprus has unveiled its dedicated India Hub, offering tailored banking solutions designed to support international corporate activities and transactions.

Roadmap For Economic Transformation

The summit also shed light on the anticipated EU-India free trade agreement, expected to lower tariffs and enhance access to the services market. Legal experts have observed a marked increase in targeted inquiries from Indian companies focusing on compliance, operational presence, and tax planning. With the imminent 2025 visit of the Indian Prime Minister, momentum is building for initiatives ranging from intellectual property management to venture capital projects.

A Strategic Blueprint For Long-Term Success

Bolstered by a rigorous foreign direct investment screening framework and a robust double taxation agreement, both nations are poised to convert high-level interest into substantive economic projects over the coming 24 months. Establishing stable communication channels between professional communities, Cyprus is set to solidify its position as a premier jurisdiction for Indian companies seeking reliable European bases. The long-term strategic partnerships forged during the summit are expected to yield significant benefits for supply chains, logistics, and maritime activity in the region.

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

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.

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.

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