November 6 marked the completion of yet another highly successful Annual General Meeting for the Limassol Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Greeting the meeting, Energy, Commerce & Industry Minister George Lakkotrypis referred to the continuous improvement of the Cypriot economy, noting, inter alia, recent developments in the field of hydrocarbons and government plans in support of entrepreneurship. He also praised the work carried out by the Limassol business community, with the Limassol Chamber at the forefront of the effort. In his greeting on behalf of the CCCI (as President Christodoulos Agastiniotis was abroad), Vice President Othon Theodoulou referred for the most part to the challenges faced by Cyprus economy, at various levels, which leave no room either for mistakes or complacency.
In his address before the Meeting, LCCI President Costas Galatariotis referred to the actions and initiatives of the Chamber to provide better, more complete and better quality services to its members and to promote the development needs of Limassol, at both city and district level. He noted the increase in the number of members and the opportunities offered to such, including through entrepreneurship-support European programs with Chamber participation, through Entrepreneurial Limassol, the monthly electronic newsletter of the Chamber where members can display their activities and successes as well as through the Business Barometer, where opinions expressed by member can help shape Chamber policy. With regard to European Programs in particular, he made a special reference to the participation in the Maritec-X (Teaming for Excellence) program which, with a budget of € 30 million, is expected to provide a significant boost to blue growth.
Having made a brief reference to the AllAboutLimassol electronic guide which operates under Chamber auspices and has continued to score successes, Mr. Galatariotis referred to specific issues that members are faced with in their daily business, such as extensive labor shortages, port charges which in many cases are virtually uncontrolled, and the high cost of housing. The Chamber, , he continued, has taken on a number of initiatives, especially on the issue of rents, where a specific proposal of the Chamber has been incorporated in a plan of the Ministry of Interior to facilitate the construction of affordable housing units.
The Limassol Chamber President hailed the contribution of the shipping/shipmanagement sector to the national economy and made specific reference to the upstanding work carried out by the Shipping Deputy Ministry. He welcomed the arrival in Cyprus of an increasing number of international companies and investors, developing activity in different sectors of the economy, including in high tech and innovation and highlighted the importance that the Chamber is attaching to innovation as a key to the future. Regarding the Science and Technology Park, he expressed the belief that it would be feasible if it ceased to be a viewed land development project that obliged the investor to construct roads and other similar infrastructure, which are the responsibility of the state.
Stressing that private sector initiative is the engine of growth, he cited relevant findings of the Chamber Business Barometer and called for a more business-friendly approach from the public sector. Concerning public works in Limassol, he welcomed the commencement of construction work on the West Limassol Wastewater Treatment Plant, as well as the completion of the study on the Limassol Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan. For the latter, he stressed that a key prerequisite for its success is the radical upgrading of public transport. Finally, he noted the continuous upgrading of the Chamber premises, which last year included the installation of a photovoltaic system, as well as the continuous development of the skills of LCCI staff so that it was now possible to perform several even technical tasks in-house.
Past the completion of Mr, Galatariotis’ speech, Chamber honorary distinctions were awarded as follows:
-To three Limassol companies, Κyriacos Hamboullas & Son Ltd. , D. Tillyris Ltd and LBM Lillytos Ltd for which the year 2019 marked the completion of fifty years of continuous membership of the Limassol Chamber.
-To Andreas Laos, a former Chamber Industry Vice President who had also served on the Board for 23 consecutive years, for his multifaceted contribution to the Chamber and to Limassol entrepreneurship.
-To the well known Limassol paediatrician Americos Argyriou for his multi-year, invaluable contribution to science and society.
