The 9th Business Leaders Summit, organised by the Bank of Cyprus on the evening of 10 November, constituted a unique point of reference for substantive discussions about the future of the economy in Cyprus, Greece and internationally.
A central part of the event was the discussion between Evangelos Mytilineos, Chairman and CEO of METLEN Energy & Metals, and the Chairman of the Board of Bank of Cyprus, Takis Arapoglou.
Mytilineos spoke about the meeting he had with the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, where cooperation in collaborations between Cyprus and Greece was agreed on, with defence as the central axis. He stressed METLEN's interest in supporting the Cypriot defence industry and offering know-how to Cypriot companies, creating long-term partnerships.
At the same time, he referred to the development of a pilot plant for the extraction of gallium, useful in microchips and defence applications, underlining that this sector is the future of the company. Mytilineos also commented on the energy situation in Cyprus and the dependence on diesel, which he notes has significant consequences, calling on the leading business class of Cyprus to take action, "yesterday".
He expressed concern for Europe, describing the Ukrainian crisis as a "curse," noting that the lack of a security strategy and the failure to cooperate with Russia left Europe vulnerable.
Also addressing the Summit, the CEO of Bank of Cyprus, Panicos Nicolaou, referred to Cyprus' strategic role in the region and the need to capitalise on emerging opportunities. He stressed the importance of stability, predictability and resilience of the Cypriot economy, while highlighting the delays in the public sector, the importance of full transparency and the impact of toxicity in the public sphere.
Nicolaou underlined the opportunity offered by the current calm to redesign and shield critical frameworks, such as tax and judicial, and the need to digitize public administration to improve competitiveness.
The Chairman of the Board of the Bank of Cyprus, Takis Arapoglou, stood out as an excellent moderator of the panel, aptly setting the framework for a meaningful discussion. With questions covering geopolitical issues, tariffs, the green transition and energy prospects in Cyprus, he managed to keep the discussion lively and timely, bringing to light the most critical issues for the region and the global market.
Earlier, Xenios Konomis, Director of Corporate and SME Banking Division, Bank of Cyprus, highlighted the crucial role of entrepreneurship in the transition towards a more sustainable, resilient and innovative future. Analysing the major changes in the global economic environment, he aptly referred to geopolitical instability, the energy crisis, artificial intelligence and the green transition, which, he said, constitute a new, multipolar world order.
(Source: InBusinessNews)
