The President of the Republic awarded the top export companies of Cyprus for 2020
The Cyprus Export Award ceremony took place today, Thursday, 16 June 2022, at the Presidential Palace. This year's ceremony was an anniversary ceremony as the institution celebrates its 40th anniversary. To date, a total of 240 awards have been presented to companies from all sectors of exports of products and services.
The Awards, which are co-organised by the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry (MoETI) and the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), were presented by the President of the Republic Mr. Nicos Anastasiades, thus rewarding the excellent efforts of Cypriot companies to increase their exports, as well as the institution itself, which is one of the longest and most successful partnerships between the public and private sectors in Cyprus.
The companies awarded, by category, are. Awards for Industrial Products[/B]
1.The Award for Small Industrial Units with less than 50 employees was awarded to LISCO FOODSTUFF LTD.
2.The Award for Industrial Units with more than 50 employees was awarded to REMEDICA LTD.
B. Award for Services
1. In the financial services sector, the prize was awarded to CEDAR ROSE INTERNATIONAL SERVICES LTD.
2. In the maritime transport and merchant shipping sector, the award was given to MSC SHIPMANAGMENT LTD.
3. In the telecommunications, IT and information sector, the prize was awarded to AEON PAYMENT TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
4. The General Service Award was awarded to NIPD GENETICS PUBLIC LTD.
A special distinction was also awarded to HERMES AIRPORTS in recognition of its contribution during the pandemic, which helped the tourism sector to function, even under adverse conditions.
In his address, the President of the Republic stressed that under the current adverse conditions due to the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, the contribution of domestic exports to the development model of the economy becomes even more valuable, contributing to the economic progress and prosperity of our country. As he noted, as a consequence of the coordinated actions of entrepreneurs and the State and despite the ongoing effects of the pandemic on international trade, the upward trend of Cypriot exports continued in 2021. According to the data provided by the President, in exports of domestic products "we managed to record an increase of 14% compared to the previous year", with the sector reaching €1.44 billion.A similar increase of 15% was also recorded in exports of services, which reached €15.4 billion.
President Anastasiades referred to a series of reforms and policies promoted by the Government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aimed at improving the business environment, the transition of businesses to the green economy and the further revitalization of foreign investment, the most important of which are the following:
- A new comprehensive strategy for attracting business and talent to Cyprus, which includes, inter alia, the transformation of the Fast Track Mechanism of the MoEFA into a Company Facilitation Unit, the revision of the policy on employment of staff from third countries and new tax and other incentives for companies and highly qualified staff. To date, the Company Facilitation Unit has registered and serviced more than 565 foreign interest companies in Cyprus.
- Financial incentives to promote innovation and the green economy. In the seven-year period 2021-2027, the YEEB has secured over €545 million from European funds, as well as from state coffers, to finance and implement various Grant Schemes that support entrepreneurship, either directly or indirectly. In 2021, projects with a total budget of approximately €130 million were announced to support businesses and in 2022, projects worth €158 million have been announced or are planned to be announced in the coming months.
- Intensify efforts to promote and advertise Cypriot products and services, with tools such as the establishment of a visual identity for Cypriot products and the implementation of the first National Action Plan for the Promotion of Cypriot Wine.
Addressing both the business world and citizens, the President of the Republic expressed his full understanding of the concerns about the significant increases in key consumer products, particularly fuel and electricity, as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent consequences of the sanctions imposed or likely to be imposed on Russia. He assured that "with the same sensitivity that we faced both the financial crisis of 2013 and the health crisis of 2020, we will, within our budgetary possibilities, face the new exogenous crisis we are facing. As you are well aware, we have already adopted two support packages of €300 million,
In closing his address, the President of the Republic assured that the Government will continue to stand by exporting companies, providing incentives and practical support to ensure that Cypriot business continues to be successful for the benefit of Cyprus' prospects for further growth.
For his part, KEBE President Christodoulos Agastiniotis said that the data proves that "exports can withstand the crisis and we should invest in this sector which is the lifeblood of the Cypriot economy. He called on the Government to continue to support as much as possible the export enterprises with new innovative incentives that will help them to face the intense competition in international markets, thus enhancing the competitiveness of their existing products, as well as the effort to develop new products that will expand the export potential of Cyprus. Finally, he urged the members of the KEBE to continuously improve the quality of their products and services, to contain production costs and to emphasise new ideas and areas of activity which they may consider that Cyprus has the potential to develop and promote internationally.
(MB/SX)
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