Cyprus, being the southeastern outpost of the European Union and a member of the Eurozone, situated in the eastern Mediterranean at the crossroads of three continents and close to the busy trade routes linking Europe with the Arab World and the Far East, has developed into a well-established international business and investment centre in the Mediterranean and at the same time the link between Europe and the Middle East. It is not an exaggeration at all to say that Cyprus acts as an important gateway for the markets of Europe and the Middle East.

Its economy is characterised by dynamism and an abundance of investment opportunities. Apart from its highly developed infrastructural and technological background (with excellent telecommunications, ports, airports and road networks), it offers many significant advantages such as ease of doing business, the quality of its manpower, a highly conducive tax system (conforming to European Union requirements) with a corporate tax rate of only 12.5%, more than 50 double tax treaties including Russia, China, the United States of America, most European and Middle Eastern countries, a liberal foreign direct investment regime allowing up to 100% foreign participation in most sectors of the economy from both E.U. and non-E.U. nationals and freedom of movement of foreign currency.

Cyprus offers an ideal investment framework combined with modern and efficient legal, accounting, banking, financial and insurance services. At the same time it possesses a good organisational structure, it secures the protection of real and intellectual property, it has an attractive IP regime, a high standard of living and quality of life and last but not least political stability and commitment to the rule of law.

In addition, Cyprus is fast developing into a European hub for investment firms. By obtaining a license in Cyprus, a firm is granted access to the markets of 30 more countries (EU and EEA).

Cyprus has also developed into an international shipping centre with its commercial fleet being among the ten biggest worldwide, ranking third in the European Union. The island is, of course, an internationally renowned tourist destination as well, offering some of the best hotel facilities in the world. The sector presents numerous business co-operation opportunities and so do the fast-growing health and education sectors.

All the above have made Cyprus an attractive place for doing business with or through it both for its Middle Eastern neighbours but also its European partners and today a significant part of the related trade and investment activities takes place through the island.

The recent discovery of natural gas reserves in the exclusive economic zone of Cyprus create additional investment and cooperation opportunities but also strengthen significantly the role of Cyprus as the link between Europe and the Middle East. This role acquires even greatest importance if one takes into consideration the discovery of natural gas reserves by neighbouring countries which also look to Europe for channelling their output.

Cyprus, being the only EU member – state in this part of the world, is the natural link between Europe and the Middle East and is ideally placed to continue playing the role of a bridge in as far as trade, investment and other forms of business cooperation are concerned, contributing in this way to the economic well-being of the European and Middle Eastern countries and their people.

The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) continues to play a pioneer and intense role both in promoting Cyprus as an international business centre and in offering its numerous services to overseas enterprises that set up operations in Cyprus and are registered with it but also to overseas business visitors who visit the island with a view of establishing and/or enhancing their co-operation with their Cypriot counterparts or who want to establish themselves in the country and use Cyprus as a base for their operations or generally examine the possibilities for investment and joint ventures. The doors of our Chamber are always open to the colleagues and friends from abroad who want to do business with, in or from Cyprus.

At the same time, the CCCI has taken a leading role in the establishment of bilateral business associations that operate under its auspices and promote actively the business relations of Cyprus with the respective countries. Nearly 40 such associations are operating under the auspices of the Chamber covering inter-alia EU member states, Middle Eastern countries, Russia, China and the United States of America.

The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry extends an open invitation to our entrepreneur friends from the Middle East to visit Cyprus and see for themselves. They will find a really friendly business environment and more than a warm welcome at the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

04/25/2019