A small increase in exports in April, due to overseas sales of halloumi cheese and pharmaceuticals, helped narrow the trade deficit in the first four months of the year, with January-April imports down a significant 18% and exports reduced at a smaller 8% rate, according to the Cyprus statistical service Cystat. Total imports of goods … Read more
President Nikos Christodoulides received delegations from associations involved in the halloumi making process. The lack of trust was evident during the meeting, which lasted about three and a half hours. The government’s objectives are to preserve halloumi as a PDO and its status as the main export product of Cyprus. The dialogue will continue with new rounds of meetings under the Minister of Agriculture, and decisions will be made soon with these objectives in mind.
– A bicommunal photovoltaic power plant would increase cooperation in the energy field and build trust.
– The European Commission is ready to help find solutions if there are diverging views and concerns.
– The aid programme supported by the EU paves the way for reunification.
– The Commission would need to undertake a comprehensive assessment of alignment with EU standards.
– The Green Line trade has almost quadrupled in 20 years, reaching over €16 million in 2023.
– The biggest challenge faced by Mario Nava in Cyprus is often to start dialogue on various matters.
Tourist diplomacy is important for bilateral relationships between countries, with Poland and Cyprus increasing their ties in recent years. Poland is becoming a significant market for Cyprus, with a growing number of Polish tourists visiting the island. The President of Poland highlighted the welcoming and safe environment in Cyprus, attracting more visitors. Brexit has decreased British tourists to Cyprus, making room for Poland to potentially become the second top tourist market. Polish investments are also increasing in Cyprus, with Polish companies setting up headquarters on the island. Additionally, Poland has a long-standing archaeological mission in Paphos, further strengthening the cultural ties between the two countries.
Presidents of the Republic have historically acted as mediators in disputes, trying to find compromises and solutions. However, recent instances where the president intervened in disputes involving big companies from abroad, such as Kition Ocean Holdings and Chevron, did not yield positive results. This has raised questions about the president’s role in such matters and whether ministers should be left to handle them instead.
The fact described in the text is that the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus in Argentina, Stelios Georgiades, introduced the people of Argentina to flavors from Cyprus during Easter, including flaounes made with halloumi and local cheeses.
Cyprus joined the European Union 20 years ago and has benefitted from EU accession. However, reforms were slow and promises were not kept regarding resolving the island’s division. The ‘Cyprus problem’ gave in to fatigue, with European partners gradually losing interest. The country faced issues with customs controls at checkpoints and ‘golden passports’ becoming a major embarrassment. Cyprus politicians are now trying to rebuild a reputation as a trustworthy partner in the EU.
Burger King in the UK will be launching halloumi fries on Tuesday, made with halloumi directly sourced from Cyprus.
Fact: A total of 10 bicommunal business ventures were crowned winners of the Stelios Foundation Bicommunal Business Awards, each winning €20,000.
Fact: Cyprus’ main exports for 2023 included minerals, oil, halloumi cheese, and pharmaceutical products.