Speaking during the opening of a cabinet session at the Presidential Palace, Christodoulides said the Spring 2025 Economic Forecast, released by the European Commission on Monday, “is particularly important, even more so at this juncture”.
“It is very important that the forecast confirms both the resilience and stability, as well as the positive momentum of the economy,” he said.
The commission projects Cyprus’ economy will grow by 3 per cent in 2025 and by 2.5 per cent in 2026, a pace significantly above the eurozone average.
“This reflects our responsible policy, with which we will continue in order to be able to pursue targeted social policy and invest in the fields of education and health,” the president noted.
Addressing a still male-dominated sector, Hadjimanolis said the day was an opportunity to recognise the growing contributions of women in shipping and to highlight the work still needed to close the gender gap.
The gathering brought together government officials, shipping professionals and gender equality advocates to celebrate the contribution of women in the sector, while also emphasising the work still needed to close the gap.
Deputy Minister for Shipping Marina Hadjimanolis welcomed attendees by expressing her appreciation for their presence and stressed the importance of the day, which she said is dedicated to “recognising the role and contribution of women in the shipping sector.”
This year’s theme, ‘An Ocean of Opportunities for Women’, she noted, reflected the expanding prospects for women in an industry long defined by male dominance.
According to an announcement, the Paphos regional tourism board (Etap) will participate in the 36-month programme, which focuses on promoting accessibility, digital transformation, environmental sustainability, cultural heritage and creative industries.
The broader goal is to help shape a smarter Europe by integrating digital tools and services into local tourism strategies.
The project, titled ‘Smart Tourism – Smart Destinations’, will help participating regions upgrade their infrastructure and enhance the visitor experience through digital solutions.
It will also integrate smart tourism practices into long-term policy planning.
Co-funded by the European Union at a rate of 80 per cent, the project brings together partners from Italy, France, Germany, Hungary, Greece, Romania, Albania, Ukraine, Belgium and Cyprus.
Paphos is expected to receive up to €200,000 in funding through the scheme.
The price index for construction materials in Cyprus recorded a 1.2 per cent increase during the period from January to April 2025, compared with the same period in 2024, according to the state statistical service.
In April 2025 alone, the index reached 119.03 units, based on 2021 as the reference year with 100 points, reflecting a marginal monthly increase of 0.18 per cent compared to March.
What is more, when compared with April 2024, the index rose by 1.54 per cent.
By major product category, the data showed notable price increases in mineral products, which rose by 3.80 per cent, and products derived from minerals, which increased by 3.31 per cent.
Electromechanical items recorded a 1.46 per cent rise.
In a statement issued this week, Evel thanked the president and the Council of Ministers for their visit to Limassol over the weekend and the open dialogue held with MPs, local authorities, state agencies, organised bodies and civil society representatives.
“Evel welcomes the announcement for the creation of infrastructure, the inclusion of projects in government planning as well as the start of the process of revising the local plan,” the chamber said.
While expressing “moderate optimism,” the chamber stressed the “urgent need to set clear and binding timetables, both for the implementation of the announcements and projects, and for addressing the acute traffic problem that plagues the city.”
The festival is one of the largest technology and innovation events in Cyprus and the Mediterranean, with over 10,000 people participating in this year’s event.
The bank, a member of the Eurobank Group and a long-standing supporter of the festival, highlighted the decisive role of technology in reshaping the banking sector and improving customer service.
According to the bank, “technology, data analysis, and strategic development were at the heart of its presentations.”
Central to Hellenic Bank’s presence was the emphasis on the strategic use of data as a tool for decision-making, process automation, and more efficient management.
Cleanthis Constantinou, Site Reliability Engineer at Hellenic Bank, delivered a talk titled “From Data to Decisions: Navigating IT in the Banking Sector with F1 Precision.”
The shares have a nominal value of €0.10 each and were originally issued on March 31, 2025.
They are set to be admitted to trading on the Main Market of both the Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) and the Athens Stock Exchange (ATHEX).
According to the official information document, this move does not require the publication of a prospectus, as the new shares are of the same class as those already listed on the same regulated markets.
The document clarifies that it is not a prospectus and has not been approved by any supervisory authority, including the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) and the Hellenic Capital Market Commission.
The 317,817 shares were issued under the bank’s 2022 Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) and the Short-Term Incentive Plan (STIP).
According to a statement from the Ministry of Energy, Papanastasiou met on Tuesday with Qatar’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Sheikh Faisal Thani Al Thani, on the sidelines of the forum’s opening.
The two discussed prospects for strengthening economic relations between the two countries and explored ways to enhance cooperation between their respective business communities.
One of the key points raised, the statement said, was the possibility of launching joint initiatives to promote business-to-business engagement.
Sheikh Faisal reportedly conveyed Qatar’s readiness to work more closely with Cyprus.
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