It is with great honour and pleasure that I inaugurate the marina of Ayia Napa. An iconic project, which we have been envisioning since 1993 and have now implemented, and which will not only change the tourist landscape of Cyprus, but also of the Eastern Mediterranean.
And to this end, I feel the need to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude to Naguib Sawiris, who, despite any obstacles he may have faced, has shown real faith in our country by going ahead with this investment, worth over €300 million.
An investment, in partnership with a renowned Cypriot company, the Caramondanis Group, to whom I also express my sincere thanks.
As one can appreciate by being here, Ayia Napa Marina provides world-class services for yachts, luxury residences and multi-purpose leisure facilities.
At the same time, setting high standards in terms of environmental protection and providing smart services to ships and visitors, this marina is the only one in the surrounding area that has received the relevant ISO certificate.
Furthermore, the added value of such a development significantly strengthens Cyprus' position in an increasingly competitive global environment, making it an ideal environment for visitors and investors alike.
Both I and the Government feel really proud as this project demonstrates that we are making full use of our comparative advantages, such as our location at the crossroads of three continents, together with a well-known culture of warmth and hospitality and a modern legal system that is widely recognised as efficient and truly business-friendly.
Advantages that allow us to create high-value projects, such as the one we are launching today, creating hundreds of new jobs and attracting quality tourism, with a consequent positive impact in terms of direct and indirect revenue inflow.
Flagship projects, such as the Ayia Napa Marina, which adopt our strategically oriented policies to establish Cyprus as a year-round tourist destination, in line with the National Tourism Strategy 2030.
A strategy that includes, among others, the development of nautical and marine tourism through the development of marinas along our coastline and the licensing of berths for simple and state-of-the-art vessels.
In this context, apart from the Limassol marina and port, we have created related and interconnected projects, such as the marinas and ports of Paralimni and Larnaca.
Nothing more can be said to highlight the obvious benefits and opportunities that the Ayia Napa marina will bring or the positive impact of constructive and transparent cooperation between the central government, local authorities and the private sector.
Benefits and opportunities that are obvious to all of us who are launching this project, which I have no doubt will not only enhance the Famagusta District or Cyprus in general, but will prove to be a jewel of Cyprus and the Mediterranean.
In conclusion, I thank and express my gratitude once again to my friends Naguib and Stavros Karamontanis and all those who contributed to this excellent result.
(PM/NG)
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