More than 750 Cypriot professionals from around the world have registered on the "Minds in Cyprus" platform, while employers in Cyprus have posted more than 400 specialised job vacancies, Head of the Office of the Deputy Minister to the President, Irene Georgalla, said.
Presenting the progress of the initiative at the World Conference of Overseas Cypriots, Georgalla said that within a year "Minds in Cyprus" had evolved from a strategic announcement into a policy delivering tangible results, strengthening links between the diaspora, the Cypriot economy, the labour market and the country's development trajectory.
She added that since the initiative was launched, members of the Cypriot diaspora have also submitted more than 300 questions, proposals and suggestions.
"Attracting and reconnecting talent requires coherence, continuity and, above all, national credibility," she said, noting that Cyprus operates in an environment marked by geopolitical tensions, rapid technological advances driven by artificial intelligence and intense global competition for talent. Talent, she added, follows not only economic growth but also trust, stable rules and a clear direction.
Georgalla said that the information and communications technology sector and the digital economy currently contribute around 14% of Cyprus' GDP, while the country's research and innovation ecosystem comprises 12 universities and more than 15 research institutes and centres of excellence. At the same time, she said, professional, financial and technology services continue to expand, creating new opportunities for highly skilled professionals.
Referring to the mission to London last May, organised as a career day, she said participation exceeded all expectations, attracting hundreds of Cypriot professionals based in the United Kingdom. More than 20 major Cypriot companies and organisations took part, giving participants the opportunity to establish direct professional contacts and explore specific employment opportunities.
The invitation extended to the diaspora, she stressed, is based not only on emotional ties with the homeland but also on genuine and credible professional opportunities. She clarified that the initiative is not aimed solely at those considering returning to Cyprus, but at the Cypriot diaspora as a whole.
For those wishing to repatriate, the objective is to offer meaningful employment and relocation opportunities, while for those choosing to remain abroad, the aim is to create opportunities for networking, collaboration and meaningful participation in Cyprus' economic and development path.
Georgalla also referred to the introduction of a targeted tax incentive for repatriates, which, she said, is one of the initiative's key policy tools.
The initiative, announced by the President of the Republic in London in May 2025, is being implemented through the coordinated efforts of the relevant Ministries, Invest Cyprus and the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), under the coordination of the Presidency. According to Georgalla, its objective is to reconnect the international experience and expertise of Cypriots abroad with Cyprus' new development model, which is based on knowledge, extroversion and the creation of high added value.