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KEO Invests €25 Million In New Limassol Production Facility

KEO Plc has embarked on a transformative initiative that promises to redefine both the domestic wine industry and the broader spirits market. The company is set to construct a flagship Distribution and Bottling Centre to consolidate its production, processing, and logistics operations.

Strategic Investment With Clear Economic Rationale

With an estimated investment of €25 million, this groundbreaking project stands among the largest private industrial ventures in the Limassol region in recent years. The site, located within the administrative boundaries of Kato Pelemidia in the Archangel Michael parish, was chosen based on rigorous economic and operational criteria. Its immediate adjacency to the port’s main arterial road ensures seamless access to both Limassol Port and the Limassol–Paphos motorway.

Robust Timeline And Job Creation Initiatives

Construction is expected to begin following the approval of urban planning and building permits. KEO said the project is projected to take approximately 24 months to complete and could generate around 50 direct jobs during development and operational phases.

Integrated Facility With Extensive Capacities

The proposed development will encompass a total area of 44,000 m², with an additional 9,612 m² allocated for a public green space adjoining the port access road. Operating in synergy with the existing winery at Malia, the new hub will facilitate the final processing, maturation, and bottling of wines produced in Malia, alongside the handling of imported raw materials, including bulk spirits, Eau de Vie, and concentrated grape must.

Ambitious Production And Processing Capabilities

The facility is projected to have an annual processing capacity of between 1,000 and 2,500 tonnes of wine. Overall, the combined annual production capacity, which includes beverages packaged in Tetra Pak, metal containers, RET bottles, and other formats, is expected to reach nearly 5,000 tonnes.

Innovative Architectural And Operational Design

The central infrastructure will span approximately 34,000 m² across three distinct levels:

  • Basement (9,810 m²): Dedicated primarily to the storage of imported raw materials, finished products, and specialized zones for wine maturation, including oak barrel cellars for Eau de Vie.
  • Ground Floor (22,840 m²): Designed for final processing and blending, this level will house advanced filtration and cooling systems, a distillation area for spirits, and state-of-the-art bottling and packaging lines alongside extensive storage for chemicals and finished goods.
  • Mezzanine (992 m²): Allocated for modern office spaces and the administrative center, ensuring efficient operational oversight.

By integrating cutting-edge technology with strategic logistical planning, KEO Plc is positioning itself at the forefront of the region’s dynamic beverages sector, setting a new benchmark for efficiency and quality in the industry.

Cyprus Promotes Ship Registry In Asia As Fleet Grows To 25-Year High

Cyprus is stepping up efforts to attract international shipowners, with Shipping Deputy Minister Marina Hadjimanolis holding high-level meetings in China and Japan as the country’s ship register reaches its strongest level in 25 years.

Running from October 14 to 29, the Asian mission focuses on expanding commercial ties, promoting the advantages of the Cyprus flag and strengthening cooperation with shipowners, shipbuilders and maritime authorities.

China Meetings Target Shipowners And Industry Leaders

In Shanghai, Hadjimanolis met Wang Qian, vice-director of the Shanghai Pudong New Area Commission of Commerce and Shipping Service Office, ahead of the North Bund International Shipping Forum on October 20–21. Organisers expect around 4,000 participants from more than 50 countries and regions, with discussions covering international shipping, maritime safety, financing, insurance, digitalisation and the transition to cleaner fuels.

The minister also met representatives of Dalian Trawind Shipping and Fortuna Shipbrokers Inc. to present the Cyprus registry’s advantages and explore registration opportunities for vessel owners. On October 20, she is scheduled to speak at the 10th Annual Capital Link International Shipping Forum in Pudong, joining a ministerial roundtable on international maritime leadership.

A visit to Zhoushan is also planned for the naming ceremony of Kypros Island, a new vessel for the Cyprus register owned by Safe Bulkers. Launched in June at the Tsuneishi shipyard on Xiushan Island, the 81,200-deadweight-tonne methanol dual-fuel bulk carrier is scheduled for delivery at the end of October. According to the Zhejiang Maritime Safety Administration, sea trials were due to take place between October 11 and 16.

Japan Engagements Strengthen Maritime Ties

Before travelling to China, Hadjimanolis met Japan’s Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Kenta Aoshima, in Tokyo on October 16. Her programme also included meetings with senior representatives of Shoei Kisen Kaisha, Nihon Shipyard, NYK Line, ITOCHU Corporation and SSY Projects, focusing on cooperation with Japanese shipowners, shipbuilders and shipping operators.

At the 5th Annual Capital Link Japan Maritime Forum, held at the Tokyo American Club, Hadjimanolis discussed maritime leadership, competitiveness, policy and international cooperation with Capital Link founder and president Nicolas Bornozis. Other sessions examined Japan’s shipbuilding strategy, new-vessel financing and the development of ammonia-powered ships.

The Tokyo programme followed a Cyprus Ship Registry reception on October 15 for representatives of Japan’s maritime and business communities. Hadjimanolis outlined the country’s shipping services and regulatory framework, while Polys Hajioannou, chief executive of Safe Bulkers and president of the Cyprus Union of Shipowners, delivered the opening remarks.

Registry Reaches Highest Level In 25 Years

At the reception, Hadjimanolis said the Cyprus Ship Registry had grown by 27% since September 2023, reaching its highest level in a quarter of a century. She attributed the expansion to efforts to improve competitiveness, simplify administrative procedures and provide more responsive services to international shipowners.

Cyprus’s inclusion on the White Lists of the Paris and Tokyo Memoranda of Understanding was another point highlighted by the minister. These lists reflect the safety and inspection performance of ships flying a national flag.

Existing commercial links with Japan include Safe Bulkers’ announcement in May of four Japanese-built dry bulk vessels scheduled for delivery in 2029.

South Korea Next On The Maritime Agenda

Hadjimanolis’ mission will continue in South Korea, where she is expected to attend the 2026 World Maritime Day Parallel Event and Korea Maritime Week alongside International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez and government representatives from several countries.

Her programme will also include discussions on implementing international maritime conventions and bilateral talks aimed at strengthening Cyprus’s shipping ties with South Korea.

The Asian outreach comes as maritime centres compete for shipowners amid geopolitical uncertainty, fleet renewal and pressure to reduce shipping emissions. For Cyprus, the strategy combines promotion of its registry with closer relationships across Asia’s shipbuilding and shipping sectors.

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