Back in March, Invest Cyprus organised an International Summit entitled ‘Unlocking Investment Through Public-Private Partnerships’ in association with the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) and the World Association of PPP Units & PPP Professionals (WAPPP).
A publication edition containing an overview of what was discussed during the 26-27 March 2025 Summit, is now available online. You can find it here.
During the event, Evgenios Evgeniou, Chairman of Invest Cyprus, explained that the purpose of the event was to bring together international experts, investors, and decision-makers to shape the future of strategic infrastructure investments in Cyprus.
Referring to Cyprus’ last large-scale PPP project, for Larnaca Airport, Evgeniou pointed out that it was implemented decades ago. “So it is vitally important to bring expertise and experience back to the country in order to facilitate future projects based on the PPP model,” he said.
The aim, he added, was to share best practices and regulatory insights to equip delegates with the right tools to identify, prepare and promote PPP projects, to connect investors with strategic opportunities in Cyprus and to facilitate tangible investments going forward.
“This Summit reflects the country’s commitment to a transparent, investor-friendly framework that fosters economic growth and job creation. The PPP model presents a compelling opportunity for investors and governments to combine the strengths of the private and public sectors to achieve efficient capital utilisation and risk-sharing. It creates sustainable and predictable revenue streams based on long-term contracts, reduces financial risk for public entities and delivers value for private investors,” Evgeniou stated.
“Importantly, from our perspective, PPPs are a tool that can help modernise the country’s infrastructure and create a foundation on which to sustain the growth trajectory that Cyprus has followed over the past few years,” he added.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) remains a cornerstone of Cyprus’ economic growth – something reflected in recent reports by leading rating agencies, which have upgraded the country to ‘A’ investment grade, Invest Cyprus’ chairman continued. “We hope that PPPs will play a critical and significant role in attracting global investors to Cyprus.”
On its part, Evgeniou stressed that Invest Cyprus is committed to promoting this path and supporting PPPs, and the conference, along with a workshop that followed, “is a testament to that commitment”.
According to the official, the expansion of PPPs in Cyprus would not only enhance infrastructure but also drive investment opportunities – especially from investors seeking partnerships with the public sector. “At Invest Cyprus, we have already seen such interest, primarily from sovereign wealth funds in our region,” he said.
Concluding, Evgeniou said: “I would like to extend our gratitude to His Excellency, Mr Nikos Christodoulides, and his government, who are strong supporters of this initiative, embracing PPPs as a key tool for future infrastructure investments in Cyprus. Later today, we will welcome several ministers to the stage to discuss this opportunity further.
We are also deeply appreciative of the contributions made by all the speakers. I would like to thank our sponsors – EY, the European Investment Bank and Hermes Airports. I hope – and truly wish – that this conference will mark a milestone in unlocking future investment opportunities for our country.”
About PPPs
Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are vital for fostering innovation, improving infrastructure and enhancing public services. By leveraging the strengths of both the public and private sectors, PPPs combine the former’s access to large-scale projects and social responsibility with the latter’s efficiency expertise and resources. This collaboration enables governments to undertake large, complex projects – building infrastructure, improving healthcare or advancing technology – that might be financially or logistically challenging alone. Additionally, PPPs help distribute risks and rewards, ensuring that projects are completed on time, within budget and to a high standard, ultimately benefiting society as a whole.
