Cyprus Business Now

Limassol port management company DP World Limassol on Friday announced launched for another year a three-month internship programme for students pursuing a degree in shipping or related field, noting that this part of the company’s commitment to contributing to Cyprus by introducing newcomers to the labour market.

A total of eight undergraduate and graduate students from the Cyprus University of Technology (Tepak), Frederick and European University Cyprus were able to get a first-hand, real-world experience in their chosen field.

The interns worked side-by-side with DP World Limassol’s employees, contributing to various projects and picking up valuable skills and experience along the way.

In addition, DP World Limassol’s experienced professionals were by their side every step of the way offering their valuable advice and support.

In their written assessment of the internship programme, the students said that being mentored by experts from the industry was an unforgettable experience, which helped them to better understand the practical aspect of their studies.

Talking about her overall experience interning with DP World Limassol’s Health and Safety Department, Christia Paraskeva, said: “DP World Limassol has helped me grow professionally while working with gifted and kind people”.

“The standards of DPWL are high enough to achieve any goal they might set, and it has been an unforgettable experience for me, and I am thankful for this chance,” she added.

Marianna Karagiorgi, who worked in the Finance Department during her time at DPWL, said that she believes the internship was useful for her professional growth, as it helped her develop key skills.

She also said that the opportunity gave her the chance to put the education she received into practice.

“It is very different seeing some things we learned in theory put into practice”, she pointed out,” Karagiorgi said.

Moreover, Andreas Soteriou said that working in operations was a valuable lesson that would help in his professional career.

“It was a life-changing experience that helped me better understand the shipping industry”, he said, adding that he believes it will provide him with a career boost,” he said.

On behalf of DP World Limassol, People Department Manager Marina Christofi stressed that investing in education and training is an integral part of the philosophy of the DP World Group.

“Our company’s aim is to actively support every community we operate in, by sharing our knowledge and expertise with the local population,” Christofi said.

“This includes preparing the next generation for a career in the fast-growing maritime industry,” she added.

In addition, Christofi said that internships are an essential part of the career ladder, as they can bridge the gap between education and the working world.

To this end, she explained, the company has forged partnerships with local leading higher education institutions, with the aim of offering high-quality internship opportunities.

“By interning at the port, students can gain a comprehensive and practical introduction to the shipping industry,” Christofi said.

“At the same time, interns are highly educated individuals who are hungry to learn and can make a valuable contribution to the team, by bringing in fresh ideas and insights,” she added, noting that “internships are an equally rewarding experience for both us and the students”.

The Nicosia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Evel) this week released a statement welcoming the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers to create a business, entrepreneurship and innovation zone on the premises of the government-owned state fair area in the capital.

“This decision validates in the best possible way the coordinated and multi-year efforts made by the Nicosia Chamber of Commerce to promote Nicosia as a region of knowledge, research and innovation,” the chamber said.

The chamber added that the creation of such a zone will contribute in the best way to strengthening the culture of cooperation, innovation, knowledge transfer and innovative entrepreneurship, while facilitating the communication and symbiosis between companies, entrepreneurs and scientists.

“The utilisation of all the relevant infrastructure that Nicosia has in this field, namely the numerous universities and hospitals, the medical schools, the research centres, the centres of excellence, as well as all supporting services, will contribute to this,” the chamber stated.

The proposed facilities at the state fair site will include, the construction of offices and other shared workspaces, a research and innovation centre, a business centre, as well as a high standard 10,000 square metre exhibition and conference space, in order to accommodate a wide range of conferences and other events.

At the same time, the supporting facilities will include a hotel, residential areas, restaurants, cafes, shops, as well as a park. An inter-ministerial committee has been set up to monitor the project.

The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) ended Friday, September 23 with losses.

The general Cyprus Stock Market Index was at 76.24 points at 13:23 during the day, reflecting a drop of 1.01 per cent over the previous day of trading.

The FTSE / CySE 20 Index was at 45.74 points, which represents a decrease of 1.04 per cent.

The total value of transactions came up to €133,214.

In terms of the sub-indexes, the main and alternative indexes fell by 1.23 per cent and 0.08 per cent respectively, while the hotel and investment firm indexes remained stable.

The biggest investment interest was attracted by the Bank of Cyprus (-2.81 per cent), Hellenic Bank (-1.01 per cent), Logicom (no change), Petrolina (+0.96 per cent) and the Cyprus Cement Company (-1.72 per cent).