Breaking news

Cyprus Emerges As Premier Investment Hub With Robust FDI Growth

Strong FDI Performance And Strategic Investment In Technology

Cyprus recorded €8.5 billion in gross foreign direct investment inflows in 2024, according to data presented at the annual general meeting of Invest Cyprus. The figures represent an increase of about 60% compared with the previous year and place the country among the top ten globally on a per capita basis.

Advancing International Partnerships And Expanding Economic Influence

The annual review highlighted several investment developments. Invest Cyprus reported more than 70 quality letters of intent and the progression of 12 major investment projects. More than 420 companies established operations in Cyprus through the Business Support Centre, according to the organization. Technology attracted a significant share of investment. Around €2.6 billion was allocated to the sector, primarily in information and communication technology.

Strategic Global Outreach And Enhanced Economic Cooperation

Invest Cyprus expanded its international outreach activities in 2025. The program included presidential missions to Canada, New York and San Francisco. Cyprus also strengthened cooperation with India and Gulf countries. The country supported the establishment of the India–Greece–Cyprus and UAE–Cyprus Business and Investment Councils and continued trilateral cooperation initiatives with Egypt. Officials said the initiatives aim to strengthen economic cooperation and attract additional foreign investment.

Future Outlook: Expanding Influence And Strategic Communication

Invest Cyprus plans additional international promotional activities in 2026. The program includes events in London and New York organized in collaboration with the Financial Times. A business and investment mission to India is also planned. The visit will coincide with the official trip of the President of Cyprus and will be coordinated with the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The organization is also expanding partnerships in the defence sector with European and Indian companies.

Leadership Endorsements And Strategic Continuity

Invest Cyprus Chairman Evgenios Evgeniou said consistent international communication remains important for strengthening Cyprus’ position as an investment destination. Finance Minister Makis Keravnos said that Invest Cyprus’s work contributes to the government’s efforts to strengthen the country’s economic competitiveness. The meeting also confirmed the appointment of a new board of directors to oversee the organisation’s future investment promotion activities.

A Resilient Future For Cyprus

The meeting confirmed the appointment of a new board of directors at Invest Cyprus. The board will oversee the organization’s investment promotion activities and international partnerships.

Cypriot Startup LIVIA Wins Europe’s Top Youth Entrepreneurship Competition

A Cypriot university team has won the European GEN-E 2026 youth entrepreneurship competition with LIVIA, a smart agriculture platform that combines satellite data, autonomous drones and artificial intelligence to help farmers improve irrigation, detect disease earlier and reduce pesticide use.

Alongside first place, the team received the FedEx Access Award, expanding its access to investors, entrepreneurs and industry experts across Europe.

Initially developed for vineyards, LIVIA analyses individual plants and turns complex data into practical recommendations. The team is now preparing its first functional product and pilot projects in Cyprus, with plans to expand into additional crops and international markets.

From An Idea To Smart Agriculture

LIVIA began with a simple question: how could satellite data create practical value in everyday life? After exploring applications ranging from meteorology to marine biology, the team identified agriculture as the sector with the greatest potential.

Recognising the limitations of satellite imagery alone, particularly in resolution and update frequency, the founders integrated autonomous drones into the platform to provide more detailed field data.

Designed as a modular system, LIVIA can continuously incorporate new data sources and capabilities. Its initial focus is irrigation management, early disease detection and plant health monitoring, with vineyards serving as the first use case because of their importance to Cyprus and the team’s own experience.

Turning Data Into Decisions

Satellite imagery provides continuous monitoring of crops, while autonomous drones capture high-resolution images whenever greater precision is needed.

Artificial intelligence then combines those datasets with information collected by growers, including IoT sensors and field observations, to generate tailored recommendations for irrigation, disease prevention and resource management.

By analysing each plant individually, the platform enables precision agriculture rather than field-wide recommendations.

Building A Hardware And Software Startup

Developing LIVIA has required balancing advanced software with specialised hardware, including drones, multispectral cameras and charging stations, all while operating with limited resources.

Although the startup participates in the Bank of Cyprus IDEA programme and has secured non-equity funding, integrating multiple data sources into a reliable AI system remains its biggest technical challenge.

The Role Of Junior Achievement

Participation in the JA StartUp Programme helped transform the original concept into a business proposition through mentoring, coaching and pitch preparation.

Support continued after LIVIA won the national competition, with the Junior Achievement Cyprus team helping the founders prepare for the European final in Latvia.

European Recognition

Winning GEN-E 2026 and the FedEx Access Award marked the team’s biggest milestone to date and created new opportunities to connect with investors, entrepreneurs and industry experts across Europe.

The founders are now focused on completing their minimum viable product, launching pilot projects in Cyprus and expanding the platform to new crops and international markets.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties
Uol
eCredo
Aretilaw firm

Become a Speaker

Become a Speaker

Become a Partner

Subscribe for our weekly newsletter