3rd Capital Link Cyprus Business Forum

The Forum was also held with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in the USA and the Republic of Cyprus Consulate General in New York.

The Ambassador of Cyprus to the United States H.E. Evangelos Savva, in his opening remarks elaborated on the state of play and future prospects of the bilateral relations between Cyprus and the US, stressing their importance and the momentous progress recently achieved, as both involved parties are committed at the highest level and through a whole of government approach. The prospects with the new Administration in Washington are bright and promising, since the last years have demonstrated that the tremendous leap ahead in the Cyprus-US relations enjoys strong bipartisan support and that is why, there is optimism in both capitals for an ever-closer, ever-more mutually beneficial strategic partnership. Indeed, while Cyprus has developed strategic partnerships with all the neighboring like-minded partners of the US, namely, Israel, Egypt and Jordan and has also taken giant strides in bolstering its engagement with regional actors such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE, it would have been an incomplete jigsaw puzzle if the relationship with the common denominator in all of this, the United States, remained static. 

Driving the process has been a matrix of close cooperation in the field of security and defense, which has become instrumental in anchoring an architecture of stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, including the State Partnership Agreement between the National Guard of Cyprus and the National Guard of New Jersey; the Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement between the Defense Ministries; the lifting of the arms embargo against Cyprus; the CYCLOPS training center for counterterrorism purposes; the structured defense dialog and the frequent joint military exercises. Furthermore, last year’s launching of a Strategic Dialogue between Cyprus and the US proved the upward trajectory of the bilateral relations, culminating with President Christodoulides’s visit to the White House at the end of 2024, which constitutes the first working visit by a Cyprus President since 1996. Energy cooperation and business and investment opportunities are also blossoming in the context of Cyprus-US relations.

The Forum’s keynote address was delivered by President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides. He said: “I am delighted to join you today at the 3rd Capital Link Cyprus Business Forum here in New York City – a city that has given me so much personally. This is a city very close to my heart. For some of the most formative years of my life, I was a proud New Yorker.”

President Christodoulides continued: “It is here that I was blessed to study and work, a city that is still home to family. New York is also the great city that instilled in me the notion that we can and must always dream big. In this sense, NYC also holds the essence of the American dream: that you work hard, with decency and ingenuity, seizing all the opportunity the United States has to offer, and you will succeed. That is to me the meaning of the American dream. And it is a dream that is still alive and continues to inspire.”

“It is no coincidence that I am joined in this trip by several cabinet members,” he said. “We are here to make the case for Cyprus as a bold investment destination.”

 “The visit also comes at a moment when the Cyprus and U.S. relations are thriving,” Christodoulides noted. “Our countries’ ties are robust, ever-expanding, and ripe with opportunity. Above all, they are solidly founded on shared values of mutual respect, democracy, and a joint commitment to fostering economic cooperation and prosperity.”

“Cyprus has proven time and time again that it is a stable, reliable, predictable, trustworthy partner to the U.S., as well as to the U.S.’ closest allies in the challenging, yet exceptionally promising, region of the Eastern Mediterranean and the greater Middle East.”

 “And so, as a new U.S. administration has taken office, opening a new, exciting chapter in our bilateral relations, and at a time when the world is undergoing remarkable shifts, I am particularly excited to engage with each and every one of you; a distinguished group of business leaders, investors, and members of the vibrant Cypriot diaspora, of which we are very proud,” he said. “Your continued engagement and collaboration are vital in enhancing Cyprus’ global standing and economic footprint.”

Forum replays and highlights are available for viewing