The business delegation accompanying Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos on his official visit to Croatia believes that there are prospects to develop trade and economic cooperation between the two countries and hopes to promote the services sector.
The Cypriot delegation comprises mainly representatives of the agricultural, financial, legal, insurance and educational sectors.
President of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry Manthos Mavrommatis told CNA that the Chamber is participating in the delegation with an aim ”to develop bilateral business relations between Cyprus and Croatia.”
”We believe there is room and also prospects to enhance bilateral trade,” he said, noting that ”what we are interest in is promoting Cyprus as an international business centre and this is why the economic forum is being held in cooperation with the Croatian chambers, during which we will have the opportunity, beyond bilateral business meetings, to present Cyprus as such an international business centre.”
Mavrommatis noted that Croatia, a candidate for EU membership, ”is showing an interest” in developing bilateral economic relations.
Director General of the Employers and Industrialists Federation (OEV), Michalis Pilikos, told CNA that the aim of the visit was to investigate the possibilities of developing economic relations with Croatia, noting that the main sector of cooperation at the moment was in the agricultural sector with Croatia being ”one of our most important markets” for potatoes.
He said the Croats have expressed ”great interest” in tourism and financial services, noting that ”there are possibilities” which will be investigated with the economic forum and that ”we have with us a strong delegation of the agricultural sector and representatives of banking, insurance and legal services.”
Director General of the Cyprus Potato Trade Council Panayiotis Stavrou told CNA that prospects for exporting potatoes to Croatia in 2007 were ”very good” and that there had been an increase in demand.
He added that Cyprus began exporting potatoes to Croatia in 1996, when the demand was for about 300 tonnes per year, while now exports reach 2,500 tonnes per year.
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— Papadopoulos: we support business cooperation with
President Papadopoulos expressed on Wednesday ”the willingness of the government of
Addressing the Croatian-Cypriot Business Forum at the Croatian Chamber of Economy, Papadopoulos assured that ”our policy is to create a stimulating environment and the necessary conditions for such cooperation to develop into successful business ventures.”
He said the visit to
He noted that ”
Papadopoulos said the island’s economy ”is based on the services sector that contributes about 76% to the Gross Domestic Product and is characterised by rapid growth, high per capita income, low unemployment of 3.8% and low inflation, in the order of 2.6%” and that ”the projected growth for 2006 is 3.8%, which compares favourably with the EU average.”
”In 2005, the per capita income reached 19,000 euros, which in terms of purchasing power corresponds to 85% of the EU average,” he added.
President Papadopoulos said ”foreign direct investment in Cyprus during 2005 exhibited a 50% increase as compared to the previous year and rose to 1.3 billion euros,” noting that ”amongst other factors, a favourable environment for small and medium companies, a liberal investment policy that allows up to 100% foreign participation in most sectors of the economy, a low corporate tax of 10% and the numerous double tax treaties that Cyprus has signed, covering 40 countries, have established Cyprus as an international business centre.”
”Trade in goods and services has been the key to overcoming the challenges of a small domestic market. Exports of
Referring to tourism, President Papadopoulos said it ”plays a vital role, as 2.3 million tourists visit
He also said that the manufacturing industry also plays an important role in the economy and referred to the new industrial development policy adopted by the government with special emphasis on the field of high technology.
The Cypriot president said ”Croatian scientists are welcome to join the incubators in
”Joint ventures could be envisaged between Cypriot and Croatian companies, such as construction projects, an area where Cypriot companies excel worldwide. Re-exporting to neighbouring countries with which
The Forum was addressed by Croatian President Stjepan Mesic. The delegates were welcomed by President of the Croatian Chamber of Economy Nadan Vidosevic and President of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry Manthos Mavrommatis.
Mesic said that it is vital for Croatian entrepreneurs to realise the potential of cooperation with
He noted that there is potential and prospects for cooperation in many fields and noted that
Vidosevic expressed hope that this forum will be used for contacts aiming at cooperation in new fields.
Mavrommatis said ”the forum gives us the opportunity to reaffirm our willingness to cooperate with our Croatian colleagues.”
He assured Croatian entrepreneurs that they will have every help when they visit
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