The President of the Republic, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides, spoke tonight about the performance of the Cypriot economy and its rapid growth rates.
Speaking to reporters as he arrived at the Agios Athanasios Industrialists’ Association dinner in Limassol, the President of the Republic said that “I am here to honor Cypriot businesspeople; I am here to honor Cypriot industrialists.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Today we received the data regarding our country’s growth rate. Over the past three years, in this very difficult geopolitical environment, our country has been among the two fastest-growing economies in Europe, three times the European average—and this simply means an increase in disposable income for citizens; it means higher wages; it means that it allows all of us, the government, to invest in sectors such as housing, health, education, and the welfare state.
And I consider it my duty to be here tonight to honor them because their contribution was decisive, as was that of the Cypriot people, more broadly, in this great effort we are making in a very difficult geopolitical environment.”
When asked if he had been briefed on the outcome of Mr. Fidan’s meeting, the President of the Republic said, “Let’s wait until tomorrow, and we’ll have a full briefing.”
In response to a journalist’s remark that the mayors of the Limassol municipalities and the Limassol Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EBEL) have expressed dissatisfaction over the absence of vital projects for Limassol in the 2027 state budget, the President of the Republic said that “the state has the resources available for development, for specific projects both in Limassol and throughout Cyprus.
And we are working to ensure that all these projects are ready to proceed, so that the executive branch can move forward with their implementation.
So, what I am calling on the municipalities and local authorities across Cyprus to do is to bring these projects to fruition; and from the executive branch’s perspective, we have the financial capacity— precisely because of our fiscal responsibility—which yields these results—to move forward with the implementation of these projects.
As for our plans in Limassol, there are three major projects aimed at addressing traffic congestion in the city. I’d like to mention just the northern bypass, the start of which is crucial for addressing the traffic problem, as well as the second phase of the Saittas – Troodos road, for which we are moving forward with the project bid.
From a financial standpoint, the state has the capacity to meet these needs.
Our call, in light of the fact that in September 2027, the Cabinet will decide on the projects for the next programming period—I am referring to those co-financed by the EU as well as from national funds, projects totaling more than 3.5 billion euros, for municipalities, regional development agencies, and local communities—is to submit well-developed proposals so that we can approve them and move forward with their implementation.”
