-
.
- Ελληνικά
Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letibiotis gave a media briefing today at the Presidential Palace.
In his opening statement, the Spokesman said: "The President of Germany, Mr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, will pay an official visit to Cyprus at the invitation of the President of the Republic. The President of Germany will arrive in Cyprus in the late afternoon of 11 February, accompanied by members of the German delegation.
It is worth noting that this is the first time that a German President has visited our country since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. On Monday morning, 12 February, President Christodoulides will receive the German President at the Presidential Palace, where brief ceremonies will be held to present the two Presidents with their medals, followed by a private meeting and extended talks between the delegations of the two countries. After the meetings, the two Presidents will make statements to the media.
The two Presidents, after their statements, will proceed to the Nicosia Town Hall and then visit the old town of the capital along the Green Line. The German President's visit along the ceasefire line in the last divided capital of Europe is both symbolic and highly significant.
This will be followed by a lunch hosted by the leadership of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI). In the afternoon, the President of Germany will visit the Anthropological Workshop of the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) and have a short meeting with the peacekeepers of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).
Later, he will visit the "House of Europe" and the "Goethe Institute".
Later, he will visit the "House of Europe" and the "Goethe Institute". He will also go to the House of Representatives, where he will have a meeting with the Speaker of the House.
In the evening, President Christodoulides will host a formal dinner in honour of the President of Germany at the Presidential Palace.
On Tuesday 13 February, President Steinmeier will visit the Makarios III High School in Platy Aglantzia, where he will talk to students and then go to the Migrant Reception Centre in Kofinou, where he will be briefed by the Minister of Interior Mr. He will then go to the village of Lefkara, where he will have a guided tour, followed by a lunch for the two Presidents in the village of Kato Dris, before President Steinmeier departs for Germany.
President Steinmeier's visit to Cyprus, the first state visit hosted by President Christodoulides since taking office, is of great importance. First of all, as I have mentioned, it is the first visit by a German President since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Cyprus and Germany. At the same time, it coincides with three historical milestones: the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion and continued occupation of our country, the 20th anniversary of the accession of the Republic of Cyprus to the European Union (EU) and the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The President of the Republic met today with the Mayor and members of the Municipal Council of the Municipality of Morphou.
The President of the Republic met today with the Mayor and members of the Municipal Council of the Municipality of Morphou. During the meeting, the President of the Republic briefed the Mayor and the delegation of the Municipality of Morphou on the meetings he had with the personal envoy of the United Nations (UN) Secretary General (SG) Ms. Holguín, as well as on the next steps in the effort to resume negotiations from the point where they have been interrupted.
The Mayor and members of the Morphou Municipal Council discussed at length with President Christodoulides the issues of concern to the occupied municipality and their intention to request a meeting with the UN Secretary General's Personal Envoy Ms. Holguín.
The Government, on the occasion of the meeting between the President of the Republic and the Mayor of Famagusta, wishes to recall the importance of the mass participation of our refugees in the forthcoming electoral process for the election of mayors and municipal councils and other authorities of our occupied municipalities. Therefore, it appeals to the refugee population to vote in the upcoming elections for the local government of the occupied Municipalities and Communities.
An event with foreign investors operating in Cyprus was held yesterday, Thursday 08 February, at the Presidential Palace.
The aim of the event, which was organised by the Presidency in cooperation with the Cyprus Investment Attraction Agency and attended by more than 100 investors, was to inform them about the initiatives implemented by the Government following the feedback received at a similar event held in June, during which a number of issues were raised by investors.
In this context, progress was presented on the implementation of the Investment Attraction and Talent Strategy, which has been implemented since 2022, as well as its reinforcement with new actions approved by the Council of Ministers on 07 February 2024.
Specifically, the Strategy includes the following actions. [*]The new Housing Policy and in particular the "Built-to-Rent" plan and the revision of urban planning incentives to increase the construction and supply of housing units. [*]The implementation of the Law on the Facilitation of Strategic Investments. [*]Ensuring the smooth continuation of the education of the children of investors and employees settling in Cyprus. [*]Enhancing access to finance by promoting the establishment of the National Development Agency and the establishment of the Cyprus Capital Financing Fund.
While reference was also made to the digitisation of the procedures related to the registration of companies and the acquisition of the required permits for Renewable Energy Sources (RES) projects./p]
It is also worth noting that as of 2022, almost 2 companies have been registered in the Company Facilitation Unit.000 companies, employing 19,000 skilled workers and 500 visas for digital nomads have been granted.
The actions were presented by the Ministers of Finance, Interior, Energy, Trade and Industry, Labour and Social Insurance and Education, Sports and Youth.
The event also provided an opportunity to discuss and record further needs and challenges faced by investors, which the Government will take into account in future policy planning.
Finally, it is noted that in the context of the Government's policy to strengthen the investment and business environment of our country, the Government will institutionalize this dialogue with foreign investors, as well as with Cypriot entrepreneurs, through the organization of respective events.
Attracting quality investments in our country is a priority for the Government. The very positive performance of the Cypriot economy is supported by large investments, but also creates a favourable environment for new quality investments. The aim remains to continue the strong upward trend in the overall contribution of investment over the last decade.
As an indication of the Government's will to substantially support sport in our country, the President of the Republic announced last night, as part of his message to the 51st Celebration of Champions 2023 of the Cyprus Association of Sports Journalists, the allocation of an additional 350 thousand euros for the preparation needs of our athletes competing in the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. As a Government we attach great importance to sport and to the tremendous effort that our athletes make to achieve performance and distinction.
We proudly follow the international excellence of our Cypriot athletes, who are healthy role models for our young people through the values and principles that sport represents."
(RM/MS/EP)
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
