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It is with great pleasure that I am here today to inaugurate the 11th Cyprus Wine Exhibition organized by the Famagusta Wine Friends Group, which has become an important annual institution. An institution that proves in practice that the Famagusta Winegrowers Group has established itself, its actions have gained prestige, and now plays a key role in the wine events of a very vital region of Cyprus, especially in terms of foreign and domestic tourism and consumption of wine products.
The will of the Government to support the wine sector and any organized effort to promote the wines of Cyprus is substantial and given, and our presence here today is proof of this. Moreover, investing in the quality, tradition and uniqueness of Cypriot agricultural products such as our Cyprus wines is a priority of the government's programme, with the aim of making our country's primary sector a pole of economic development for the country.
Undoubtedly, the efforts of Cypriot producers have led to the production of modern wines of excellent quality, which deservedly represent our country in international markets. I am particularly referring to the wines that are rightly called the "ambassador wines" of Cyprus, wines made from indigenous varieties such as "Xynisteri" and "Maratheftiko", "Koumandaria" and other branded wines of Cypriot production that excel in international competitions. It is therefore no coincidence that these wines are the focus of your event. They are wines that are different, unique in character and of historical importance.
Through such events and activities, we contribute to enhancing the recognition of Cyprus' wines and placing our country on the wine tourism map as a unique destination. In this context, I am pleased to announce that the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, on the occasion of the anniversary of "800 years of Coumadaria", will organize next October, a wine event for the "ambassador wines" of Cyprus. The event will take place at the headquarters of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) in France. This is a very important event of international importance which will be included as a parallel activity to the World Congress of the Organisation. The Conference, which will coincide with the Organisation's centenary celebrations, is expected to be attended by many distinguished visitors, politicians, representatives of the fifty Member States, technocrats, academics, wine traders and other experts involved in the wine sector. In the following period, the Department of Agriculture of our Ministry will coordinate the actions required for a successful promotion of Cyprus wine in this important market, with the close cooperation and participation of all those involved in the sector.
In addition, within the framework of the implementation of the Strategic Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy 2023-2027, the Ministry manages the interventions of financial support to the wine sector. I would like to stress that the contribution of the interventions is not just financial, as the interventions encompass the Ministry's entire philosophy and strategy for the wine sector, which is based on developing the competitiveness of wine growers and winemakers, promoting quality PDO/PGI/organic wines, environmental sustainability, addressing climate change, promoting biodiversity and food security. Policy planning is evolving, decided and ratified in Brussels, however, through our actions, we have succeeded in ensuring that the Cyprus Strategic Plan takes into account the specific national conditions of wine production and marketing, aiming at the continuous development of the wine sector.
With the five-year National Support Programme for the Wine Sector 2019 - 2023, which was completed on 15 October 2023, we have once again achieved full disbursement and allocation of a total of more than €22 million to winegrowers and winemakers from purely European resources. An equal amount is expected to be disbursed in the new programming period until 2027 for very important support interventions such as the restructuring of vineyards with varieties that enjoy greater acceptance in the wine market, investments in modernisation and visibility in wineries and the promotion of wines in third countries.
However, more effort is needed on the part of our winemakers to successfully implement the very important intervention of 'promotion and communication to third countries' in order to make use of the available funds budgeted to promote our strengths as a historic wine-growing and wine-producing country. Let me remind you that this intervention, as well as the "investment in innovation" intervention, has already been announced by the Cyprus Rural Payments Agency, and the deadline for submission of applications by winemakers is 1 July 2024.
An additional landmark wine event for the wine sector of Cyprus is the holding, in May, of the 15th Cyprus Wine Competition. This year's event has been placed both under my auspices and under the auspices of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine. The similar events of the competition, the co-organizers and the expected participation of a large number of winemakers demonstrate the great importance given to the institution, while the presence here of the President of the OIV, Dr Luigi Moio, who will chair the jury and supervise all technical procedures of the competition in accordance with the international standards of the OIV, will add a special prestige.
Apart from the above, the competition is also important as it fosters a climate of fair play between winemakers for quality recognition and consolidates the importance to be attached to the quality and uniqueness of Cyprus wines. At the same time, the dynamic promotion of the events of the competition in social media creates a positive current in favour of varietal wines, PDO and PGI wines, as their recognition increases and the country's wine identity is established in the minds of consumers. The aim, of course, is to increase the market share of Cyprus wines, gaining new ground.
In conclusion, I would like to congratulate the Famagusta Wine Friends Group for its tireless efforts and initiatives aimed at the continuous progress of this important region of the country, as well as of Cyprus wine.
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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