Located in the eastern Mediterranean at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Cyprus’ strategic position has always played a key role in shaping its 10,000-year history and in developing the island into a convenient centre for trade and international business. Despite being a country of less than a million people, the Republic of Cyprus has steadily built itself into a thriving business centre over the decades. An EU and eurozone member for over a decade and with one of the highest educated populations in Europe, Cyprus has built a strong service-based economy. Its low-cost business environment with a wealth of support services, a sophisticated ICT infrastructure and an investor-friendly tax regime – backed up by an extensive network of double taxation agreements with 67 countries – has developed Cyprus into an important European and regional financial and business services hub. The country is also one of Europe’s favourite holiday destinations, enjoying 340 days of glorious sunshine a year and boasts a beautiful coastline teeming with stretches of golden sand, secluded bays and rocky coves, all surrounded by some of the cleanest beaches and waters in the Mediterranean Sea. The landscape is dotted with fascinating history remains, from Neolithic settlements and ancient city-kingdoms to exquisite Byzantine art and magnificent Venetian architecture. Add to this the vibrant and cosmopolitan lifestyle where East meets West; Cyprus perfectly balances business and leisure.

People & Culture 

While the Republic of Cyprus is a Greek-speaking nation, English is almost universally spoken and is the language of international business. German, French and Russian speakers are also easily found, thanks to the many Cypriots with international degrees, the country’s commercial ties with the global business community, and the island’s popularity as a tourist destination. Cyprus is well known for its hospitality, reflected in the Greek word xenos, used for both strangers and guests. Life is meant to be enjoyed in Cyprus, renowned for its excellent quality of life. Cafe culture predominates, with business and social meetings taking place over a leisurely frappe (iced coffee) in the numerous cafes in every town and city. As with most Mediterranean cultures, food also plays a vital role in family and social life. The famous Cyprus meze – a large selection of small, delectable dishes – is best enjoyed by siga siga (slowly) and al fresco.

Resilient EU Economy 

Cyprus has a resilient economy that has repeatedly proven its capacity to adjust to continuously changing conditions and bounce back from external shocks. Before its independence from the UK in 1960, the Cyprus economy was primarily based on agriculture and the export of minerals. However, in the last few decades, the country has established itself as a serious international business and service centre for shipping, financial services and commerce and is classified by the World Bank as a high-income country. The island’s accession to the EU in 2004, with the subsequent adoption of the euro in 2008, catalysed its transformation into a competitive financial and business services hub.

Following the country’s financial crisis in 2013, Cyprus undertook a major reform agenda, and while still facing some economic challenges, the small EU nation has demonstrated resilience and an ability to bounce back to growth. 2015 signalled a sooner-than-expected exit from recession, and a rapid economic turnaround followed, with 2017 recording almost 4% growth – earning Cyprus praise as an economic success story. Cyprus’ resilience in the face of the pandemic was once again evident, with GDP growth reaching a strong 5.5% in 2021, although the European Commission forecasts a downturn to 3.2% growth in 2022. Consistent credit rating upgrades have further boosted confidence, and foreign direct investment has flowed into all key sectors. Cyprus has retained and strengthened its status as an attractive investment gateway to the EU and other high-growth markets and a secure base to tap into opportunities in the Middle East. Offering a tax-efficient EU company domicile, the country is also emerging as a compelling destination for regional headquarters a base for tech companies and an increasingly attractive location for fund managers and promoters.

Growing Investment Fund Sector 

Cyprus has big ambitions in the investment funds sector to establish itself as a contender in the global asset management industry. The steady growth in both Assets under Management and in the number of fund structures licensed and active in Cyprus have underlined the strength and appeal of the novice domicile. Assets under Management (AuM) have seen a formidable increase from €2.7 billion in 2016 to €11.1 billion in the first quarter of 2022, showing that it is not the sector’s size but its fast growth that has impressed and is being recognised by the global asset management and investor community. Investment funds have already invested more than €2 billion in several sectors of the Cypriot economy, such as shipping, hospitality, education, healthcare, and renewable energy. Cyprus offers EU-regulated Undertakings of Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS) and Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs). In July 2018, the country upgraded its AIF framework and introduced Registered AIFs (RAIFs), which do not require authorisation by the supervising Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) to commence operations provided they are externally managed by an Alternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM) based in Cyprus or another EU country. The upgraded legislation has been hailed ‘ground-breaking’ and offers a significantly more time- and cost-efficient means of establishing AIFs in Cyprus. Today, most alternative investment funds in Cyprus are of small and medium size and focus on debt and equity securities, real estate and private equity. However, Cyprus has also attracted larger funds, including one with assets of €500 million under management. The number of alternative investment funds has more than doubled in the last five years, and foreign UCITS are now widely marketed in Cyprus, including ones promoted by international financial institutions such as JP Morgan, UBS and Julius Baer.

Global Shipping Hub 

A major success story for Cyprus has been the maritime sector, which accounts for around €1 billion in annual revenue and approximately 7% of the island’s GDP – and of this figure, ship management alone accounts for 5%. Apart from offering ship management and business services to the industry, the Cyprus Registry is classified as the third-largest merchant fleet in the European Union and the 11th-largest in the world. The country is also the EU’s largest ship management centre and among the top three in the world. The sector has seen growth in the past few years, and Cyprus is currently looking at restructuring the commercial shipping sector to strengthen its competitive edge. Since introducing an advantageous EU-approved tonnage tax system in 2010, the island has continued attracting increasing numbers of shipping companies worldwide. The country’s maritime capital, Limassol, is home to some of the most influential names in shipping today, managing around 20% of the world’s third-party managed fleet.

East Med Energy Centre

Besides the sun and the sea, Cyprus has few natural resources and has been dependent on oil imports to satisfy its energy demands. However, the substantial discovery of natural gas and potential oil deposits in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Mediterranean Sea is expected to change all this. Exploratory drillings by global energy giants have confirmed natural gas reserves that could meet Cyprus’ domestic gas demand for over 100 years and a surplus for export. The hydrocarbons race in Cyprus’ waters has attracted international energy heavy­weights, such as Total, ENI, Kogas, Royal Dutch Shell, and ExxonMobil, to explore the island’s waters for discoveries, and multiple auxiliary services companies have set up to support these efforts. With 340 days of sunshine to harness, solar energy has recently become a bit of a boom segment for Cyprus. The government is focusing strongly on renewable energy and working towards achieving a zero-carbon economy. The country’s top-tier universities and research institutes are also pivotal in these efforts to create a more sustainable energy mix through innovation in smart tech and research to battle climate change.

Tech and Innovation Taking the Lead 

The technology space in Cyprus is seeing a fresh boost with more state support to the sector, the launch of new national strategies to integrate innovative tech, and fresh incentives to attract more digital nomads, IT start-ups and regional headquarters. With its new focus on long-term development outcomes, Cyprus is determined to diversify and harness growth with a technology-driven economy. The biggest spender on IT in Cyprus is the financial sector, followed by the telecoms providers and the public service. Albeit one of the smallest EU member states, research and development is an area where Cyprus punches well above its weight. Unprecedented investment into the sector and ground-breaking projects are establishing this small island as an innovation and research hub and a regional centre of excellence, providing strong links with the global scientific and technical innovation community.

Popular Tourism Destination 

Tourism has been a key driving force of the Cypriot economy for decades, and pre-Covid, the country saw consecutive years of record-breaking numbers of tourist arrivals and revenue. Although the pandemic temporarily stifled the thriving sector, tourist arrival figures are rebounding, and new projects are set to strengthen and upgrade Cyprus’ tourism product and encourage more year-round visitors, a strategy Cyprus is fully committed to. These projects range from constructing new golf courses, luxury marina developments, and upgrading the island’s wellness and medical tourism products. The current construction of the Republic’s first-ever luxury casino resort is a new and exciting prospect. The €600 million integrated resort, run by a consortium with renowned Hong Kong player Melco, will exceed five-star status and open a whole new market for niche tourism on the island.

Attractive Real Estate 

The Cyprus real estate sector showed strong market performance straight through 2019, but 2020 marked a turning point as the pandemic hit worldwide. Amid widespread lockdowns and travel restrictions, foreign investor demand dropped significantly. However, by October 2021, sales to the European market increased 68%, and 2022 has shown dynamic momentum in sales so far. Cyprus’ appeal has remained strong amongst international investors, expats and retirees thanks to its Mediterranean climate, high quality of life and safety, and its status as an EU member state conveniently located between three continents. Cyprus has one of Europe’s highest home ownership rates and has a longstanding market for second homes and holiday villas, making the economy heavily reliant on the sector. With new up-market developments, increased foreign investment in top hotels and major infrastructure projects springing up, Cyprus’s attractiveness as a property investment location will grow in the coming years.

FDI Appeal 

Cyprus’ FDI appeal has been upward thanks to a robust economy. Real GDP growth averaged 4.6% in 2015-19, and in 2021, the economy showed strong performance with 5.5% growth, regaining lost ground from the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cyprus has been a hive of activity for several years, with several notable projects already implemented or in the pipeline, strengthening the country’s image and appeal. Foreign investment flows have been significant. In 2011-2020, cumulative net FDI reached €22.2 billion. This investment was driven by equity, with the shipping/shipping finance and real estate sectors playing a significant role, while investment in communications is now also gaining importance. Ongoing improvements in the macroeconomic and financial environment have also revived international interest in around 30 major development projects on the island. Investment opportunities in Cyprus’ large-scale projects span various sectors, including high-value tourism and housing developments, projects with a special focus on golf courses and luxury marinas, education, energy, and, more recently, the international film sector.

The growth performance of Cyprus over the last five years has been exceptional and exceeded international expectations, while successive credit rating upgrades and new incentives have attracted billions in foreign investment since 2015, with significant inflows from the US, Asia, Russia and the Middle East. Cyprus’ liberalised Foreign Direct Investment Policy, both for EU citizens and investors from third countries, along with its favourable tax regime, makes it one of Europe’s most attractive centres for FDI.

A Diversified Future 

Offering a professional yet relaxed atmosphere that makes doing business pleasurable as well as profitable, Cyprus’ Mediterranean lifestyle coexists happily with a cutting-edge international business hub, allowing investors to enjoy the best of both worlds: a safe and comfortable environment for family life and a sophisticated infrastructure from which to grow and develop business.

Cyprus combines numerous advantages as a business base with its EU-approved tax regime, competitive 12.5% corporate tax rate and tax breaks for high earners, its pro-business government and highly skilled workforce, and promising growth and development across numerous economic sectors. With Cyprus’ prospects on the rise, the country has all the elements to strengthen its reputation as an international centre of business excellence in one of Europe’s most interesting investment locations.