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Cyprus Economy Set For 3.4% Growth In 2024: Key Sectors Driving Prosperity

by News Editor

March 4, 2025

According to the latest figures from the Statistical Service, the Cyprus economy is projected to grow by 3.4% in real terms in 2024. When considering current price estimates, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to expand by 6.6%.

Leading Sectors Fueling Growth

The primary sectors driving this impressive growth include:

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Hotels and Restaurants
Information and Communication
Construction
Wholesale and Retail Trade, Vehicle Repair

These sectors have been vital in maintaining a robust economic trajectory despite various challenges.

Notable 2.6% Growth In Q4 2024

In the fourth quarter of 2024, the growth rate reached 2.6% compared to the same period in 2023. Adjusting for seasonal variations and workdays, growth stands at 2.9%.

Sectors Contributing To Q4 Growth

The continued expansion during the last quarter was mainly due to:

Hotels and Restaurants
Wholesale and Retail Trade
Information and Communication

It is important to note that the Construction sector faced a downturn during this period.

The overall expected 3.4% growth for 2024 reinforces a positive outlook for the Cyprus economy, highlighting its resilience and capacity to adapt in a dynamic global landscape. For further insights on this economic outlook, consider reading about how Cyprus inflation trends are shaping the financial landscape.

Microsoft Bets Big On South Africa With $297M AI And Cloud Investment

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

March 7, 2025

Microsoft is doubling down on its commitment to South Africa, pledging an additional 5.4 billion rand ($297 million) by 2027 to expand its cloud and AI infrastructure in the country.

The announcement, made by Vice Chairman Brad Smith in Johannesburg, comes ahead of a key South African investment conference and adds to the 20.4 billion rand Microsoft has already poured into Africa’s most industrialized economy.

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Driving Growth Through AI And Talent

Beyond boosting infrastructure, Microsoft is making a play for South Africa’s digital future. Over the next year, the tech giant will fund certification exams for 50,000 young people, equipping them with in-demand digital skills to fuel economic growth and innovation.

South Africa has struggled with sluggish economic expansion—averaging under 1% growth annually for more than a decade—and is actively courting private-sector investment to accelerate momentum.

Big Tech’s Race For Africa

Microsoft was an early mover in South Africa’s cloud computing race, launching data centers in Johannesburg and Cape Town long before Amazon and Google entered the market. The company is now ramping up capacity with a new facility in Centurion, Gauteng, while also spearheading a $1 billion geothermal-powered data center in Kenya.

President Cyril Ramaphosa welcomed the move, calling Microsoft’s investment a vote of confidence in South Africa’s economic potential. “This company really has an African heart,” he said, underscoring the country’s efforts to position itself as a prime destination for global tech investment.