Business Mission: ENTERPRISE GREECE, EBEA, SEV, and SEVE in Nicosia 2025
Athens, March 27, 2025 | Enterprise Greece, the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV), and the Union of Greek Exporters (SEVE), in collaboration with the Cyprus Federation of Employers & Industrialists (OEB), supported by the Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry of Cyprus and the Embassy of Greece in Cyprus, under the auspices of the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Athens, organized a business mission to Nicosia from Tuesday, March 11 to Thursday, March 13, 2025.
The business mission included 21 Greek export companies from sectors such as technology, food and beverages, industry, construction, etc., who held over 170 business meetings with Cypriot companies and public organizations.
Cyprus is a significant trade partner for Greece. The two countries share strong economic and commercial ties, bolstered by a common language and cultural heritage. Greece is one of the main suppliers of goods and services to Cyprus, and Cyprus exports significant products to Greece. The tourism, services, and shipping sectors are particularly well-developed, further enhancing trade relations between the two nations. Additionally, Cyprus acts as an entry point for Greek businesses wishing to invest in other Middle Eastern and African countries.
The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs responsible for Economic Diplomacy and Extroversion, Mr. Tasos Hatzivassiliou, alongside the Secretary-General for International and Economic Relations and President of Enterprise Greece, Mr. Dimitris Skalkos, visited Cyprus on March 11 and 12, 2025, and participated in the Business Forum. They also met with members of the Greek delegation during a networking event organized by the Ambassador of Greece in Cyprus, Mr. Ioannis Papameletiou.
The Greece-Cyprus Business Forum and the business meetings took place on March 12, with speeches from Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Tasos Hatzivassiliou, the Secretary-General for International and Economic Relations and President of Enterprise Greece, Mr. Dimitris Skalkos, the Ambassador & Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, Mr. Andreas S. Kakouris, Senior Officer at the Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry of Cyprus, Mrs. Eleftheria Ioannou, President of OEB, Mr. Antonios Antoniou, First Vice President of EBEA, Mrs. Sofia Kounenaki Efstramioglou, Director of International Relations at SEV, Mrs. Vicky Makrygianni, and Executive Vice President of SEVE, Mr. Panagiotis Hasapis.
Mr. Dimitris Skalkos, Secretary-General for International Economic Relations and Extroversion of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and President of Enterprise Greece, stated: “The excellent political relations and the deep historical and cultural ties between Greece and Cyprus form the basis for further strengthening our economic cooperation. In this context, partnerships are being promoted in technology, energy, sustainable tourism, services, construction, and agri-food, aiming to enhance trade and investment relations and create new opportunities for the citizens of both countries.”
Mrs. Sofia Kounenaki Efstramioglou, First Vice President of ACCI, remarked: “The enduring strong and fraternal ties between Greece and Cyprus are a foundation of stability and security in a period of global uncertainty. These ties are also reflected in the business sector, with over 1,500 Greek businesses operating in Cyprus and Greece being a key destination for Cypriot products. Beyond traditional sectors such as tourism, trade, and food, new dynamic prospects are emerging in the areas of university education, energy, construction, maritime technology and services, health, and high technology, which are worth exploring. As EBEA, we remain committed to strengthening business relations between Greece and Cyprus, maintaining continuous communication with business and institutional bodies. We actively participate in the implementation and expansion of the Intergovernmental Agreement between Greece and Cyprus for Research, Innovation, and Scientific Cooperation. This business mission represents another significant step towards strengthening our trade ties and creating new opportunities for collaboration.”
Mrs. Vicky Makrygianni, Director of International Relations at SEV, stated: “The interest in participating in this mission was immense, to the point that it exceeded the capacity of a single business mission. This undoubtedly demonstrates the interest of Greek businesses in commercial collaboration with their Cypriot counterparts. Cyprus is one of Greece’s most important trade partners in the Mediterranean region. The increasing trend in our bilateral trade relations clearly shows that there is significant potential for further strengthening, and the trust-based relations between the business communities of the two countries play a crucial role in this direction. What is missing is synergy between the two business communities in third-country projects, with an exchange of best practices and expertise. Moreover, the geopolitical developments in our region are so important that these collaborations should already be firmly established.”
Mr. Panagiotis Hasapis, Executive Vice President of SEVE – Union of Exporters, emphasized the significant potential of Greece-Cyprus trade cooperation. He noted that exports in 2024 reached €3.31 billion, while imports from Cyprus amounted to €600.8 million, showing a decrease of -3.9% compared to the previous year. The trade balance showed positive growth, reaching €2.71 billion, with a 1.3% increase compared to 2023. He also highlighted that Cyprus is a strategic trade partner for Greece, offering significant opportunities for Greek businesses, especially in energy, construction, and technology sectors. In the energy sector, exports of mineral fuels and refined products reached €801.5 million, while in technology, exports of electrical devices and equipment reached €336.5 million, covering 10.2% of the total. Additionally, he mentioned the dynamic services sector in Cyprus, creating favorable ground for developing new partnerships. Concluding his speech, Mr. Hasapis assured that SEVE remains committed to supporting Greek businesses in strengthening their presence in the Cypriot market and wished them success in their negotiations and business contacts.
Eurobank, as a regional banking group with a presence in both Greece and Cyprus, actively participated in the Greek business mission, supporting the initiative that promotes business extroversion, a strategic priority for the bank through its award-winning international trade platform, Exportgate. On Wednesday, March 12, the bank hosted a dinner for the members of the business mission, with the Minister of Energy, Commerce & Industry of Cyprus, Mr. George Papathanasiou, as a guest. During the dinner, the Minister had the opportunity to exchange views with representatives of the Greek companies involved in the mission. On Thursday, March 13, a working meeting took place at Eurobank Cyprus offices between the Greek delegation members, representatives from Invest Cyprus, and senior officials from Eurobank Group.
The mission was attended by representatives from the following Greek companies:
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