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Cyprus Emerges As A Resilient Investment Hub For Global Capital

Confident Outlook And International Appeal

Trade Minister Michael Damianos said Cyprus remains a stable and predictable destination for investment during remarks at the Great Britain Cyprus Business Association conference in Limassol. He described the presence of international participants as an indication of continued interest in Cyprus as a business and investment hub.

Foreign Direct Investment As An Economic Cornerstone

Damianos highlighted the role of foreign direct investment in supporting smaller economies, noting its contribution to economic resilience and growth. Capital inflows support productivity, strengthen competitiveness, and facilitate the transfer of technology, expertise, and operational practices across sectors.

Robust Economic Fundamentals

Economic data shows Cyprus recorded 3.8% GDP growth in 2025, exceeding the EU average. This performance is supported by relatively low inflation, near full employment, and a continued decline in public debt, which is expected to approach 50% of GDP. The country also secured an investment-grade A rating, marking its first upgrade since 2011 and reinforcing fiscal stability.

A Business Environment Built For Growth And Innovation

As a member of the European Union and the eurozone, Cyprus operates within a structured regulatory and legal framework, including elements based on English common law. Damianos pointed to a competitive tax system, ongoing digitalisation of public services, and administrative reforms aimed at reducing bureaucracy as key factors supporting business activity.

Strategic Energy Initiatives And Future Prospects

Plans to position Cyprus as a regional energy hub include investments in renewable energy, storage systems, and technologies such as green hydrogen. Projects such as the Great Sea Interconnector and natural gas exploration aim to diversify the energy mix, reduce costs over time, and strengthen energy security.

Gateway To Regional Markets And Strengthening Partnerships

Damianos highlighted Cyprus’ economic ties with the United Kingdom, describing it as a key partner across trade, investment, and tourism. He encouraged businesses to consider Cyprus both as an investment destination and as a base for accessing regional markets.

Conclusion: A Future Guided By Strategic Vision

Cyprus continues to position itself as an investment destination supported by fiscal stability, international partnerships, and ongoing reforms. These developments are expected to shape its role within the regional and European economic landscape.

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

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.

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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.

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.”

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.

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