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It was with great pleasure that I accepted the invitation of the dear Minister of Rural Development and Food, Mr.Lefteris Avgenakis, to visit and address the opening of Agrotica 2024, the 30th International Exhibition of Agricultural Machinery, Equipment and Supplies. Agrotica is a leading exhibition event for the agricultural economy, both in Greece and Cyprus and in the wider Balkan region, and it is a great honour for me to be here today.
This year Agrotica celebrates its 30th anniversary, a long history of contributing to the agricultural development of both Greece and the wider region of Southeast Europe. It is a hub for meeting, knowledge and experience exchange and networking of public and private actors in the agri-food sector, becoming a reference point for the agricultural world and the business community. It also gives visitors and guest buyers the opportunity to strengthen their relationships and contribute to the development of the agricultural sector.
Of course, at this point I could not fail to mention the beautiful city that hosts Agrotica at its International Exhibition and Conference Centre. The city of Thessaloniki carries a strong symbolism for us in Cyprus as it is the student city of choice for generations and generations of agronomists who were inspired by the example of the heroic martyr Kyriakos Matsis, one of the most important figures of the national liberation struggle of EOKA. An agronomist by profession, he studied in the city of Thessaloniki and developed intense student activity to promote the rights of the Cypriot people.
Cyprus and Greece are countries with common historical and cultural roots. The historical and national bonds that unite us are strong, timeless and indisputable. The will to further strengthen our exemplary cooperation, our bilateral contacts and the exchange of experiences in all sectors, particularly in the field of agriculture, is a given, with the aim of shaping a resilient and sustainable agricultural sector that supports our local communities and promotes development.
The close cooperation between our countries has also been confirmed in the framework of EUMED-9, the informal alliance of Mediterranean countries that seeks, among other things, to coordinate and cooperate on issues such as addressing the impacts of climate change, the circular economy, biodiversity conservation, the farm-to-table strategy and the further simplification of the Common Agricultural Policy.
A few days ago, on 24 January, the Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries met in Brussels at the initiative of the dear Minister Avgenakis and discussed a number of issues of concern to our farming community and coordinated our positions. Through this initiative, the countries of the European South can join forces and make a decisive contribution to the formulation and promotion of innovative and integrated solutions and policies for our countries, especially in view of the start of the discussions on the future of European agriculture. The climate crisis in particular is having a decisive impact on European agriculture on many levels. Through the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plans we are implementing interventions to promote sustainable agriculture through the use of resistant varieties, further improving water management and supporting sustainable farming systems. We are also providing financial support to our farmers for the adoption of new technologies and practices, strengthening research, innovation, education, smart and precision agriculture and ensuring the production of safe agricultural products. Moreover, supporting our farmers towards the creation of modern and economically viable farms is a priority of President Nicos Christodoulides' governance programme.
In Cyprus, the first indications from the implementation of the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 have been particularly encouraging, as our farmers have shown great interest in joining and participating in the area and head interventions announced in 2023. Participation in both the agri-environmental interventions of the second pillar of the CAP and the eco-schemes of the first pillar of the CAP was very satisfactory and very close to our initial target.
We are continuing dynamically in 2024 with the announcement of the remaining interventions of the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 on the basis of a predefined timetable. Important announcements are expected this year, including the announcements of the investment interventions, i.e. the measures that provide for the granting of financial support to our farmers for the creation of new farms and the modernisation of existing farms using new technologies and innovative methods and applications of smart agriculture.
In this context that I have just described, the important role of Agrotica, an institution that leads the way in modernising and reshaping the primary sector, listening to the new challenges, new trends and requirements of our time, is also highlighted.
I therefore wish you every success in the organisation and in the many parallel activities and events that will take place in the coming days.
I wish you every success in the organisation and in the many parallel activities and events that will take place in the coming days. I am sure that the hundreds of thousands of visitors to the exhibition will have a productive and constructive stay in the hospitable city of Thessaloniki.
(EN/AF/NG)
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