European Commissioner for Trade Travels to Cyprus

European Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht is scheduled to travel to Cyprus this week. De Gucht is slated to meet with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, Foreign Affairs Minster Ioannis Kasoulides and Minister of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism Yiorgos Lakkotrypis.

Discussing how Cypriot trade will be assisted by the European Commission, the Spokesman stated: "In our view trade rules should benefit not only traditional trade in goods but also services-based economies within the EU, like Cyprus".

Talko discussed that if the EU finalized all of its ongoing free trade discussions asap, an added 275 billion euros to its GDP would occur, in addition to the introduction of 2.2 million new work positions. He commented, "Cypriot companies can certainly gain from these negotiations in the middle and long term".

The Spokesman is also scheduled to address a trade event tomorrow in Nicosia, along with Honorary President of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Manthos Mavrommatis and the Minister of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism Yiorgos Lakkotrypis.

Predicted topics of discussion include Free Trade Agreements, the EU's Trade Policy, Trade in Services Agreement discussions and Doha multilateral advancements, in addition to small and medium sized enterprises and their advancements.