The annual World Conference of Overseas Cypriots, continued on Wednesday afternoon, with the presence of First Lady Philippa Karsera Christodoulides. During the conference, elected representatives of Greek descent from various countries shared their initiatives, while the government’s policy on attracting foreign investments was also highlighted.
The First Lady participated as the Honorary President of the Cyprus Children’s Relief Committee, which has been assisting children of enclaved and refugee families, and other needy children since Turkish invasion and occupation in 1974, in collaboration with expatriate organizations. The honorary presidency of the committee is traditionally held by the First Lady of Cyprus.
She said that aid amounting to pound 20,000 has already been granted to 127 children this year, funded primarily by the Cyprus Children’s Fund Inc. of America and sources within Cyprus. She assured full transparency, as accounts are maintained by the Treasury of the Republic and audited by the A
uditor General.
Furthermore, Karsera Christodoulides highlighted the human-centric approach of President Christodoulides’ administration and stressed the vital role of voluntary assistance alongside state welfare.
She also mentioned her role as Honorary President of the Independent Social Support Agency, established in 2014 to assist students unable to continue their education due to the economic crisis. She explained that this year, the agency expanded its beneficiary criteria, established a clear application evaluation framework, and intensified efforts to find donors, primarily targeting young people from families living on the poverty line and large and single-parent families.
According to the First Lady, for the 2023-2024 period, the agency provided scholarships to 800 students, a significant increase from the previous years’ 300. The agency offers financial support ranging from pound 1,500 to pound 3,500 for tuition or housing.
She also acknowledged last year’s contribution from the diaspora to the
Independent Social Support Agency.
Nikos Zittis, President of the Cyprus Children’s Fund Inc. of America, mentioned that over the years, they have sent more than $5 million in aid to Cypriot children and have provided over $1 million in scholarships to Greek students in higher education institutions in the USA. Annually, 30 scholarships are awarded to students attending prestigious universities in the United States.
Voices of Greek-Origin parliamentarians abroad
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During the conference, there was also a discussion among members of the World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association (WHIA), which includes Greek-origin legislators from non-Greek-speaking countries. Parliamentarians from Canada, Australia, and the USA spoke about the strong representation of the Greek community in their respective countries and their efforts to promote Cyprus’ issue. They emphasized the need to remain vigilant against efforts to recognize the illegal Turkish-held brea
kaway ‘state’ in Cyprus.
They also mentioned encouraging developments expected in the coming months, including the potential complete lifting of the US arms embargo on Cyprus and the abolition of entry visas for Cypriots traveling to the US through the visa waiver program.
Diaspora’s role in promoting Cyprus as an investment destination
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‘Invest Cyprus’ called for the diaspora’s contribution to the ambitious investment goals of the Republic of Cyprus. Speaking at the conference, Deputy Director General at Invest Cyprus Lia Riris highlighted the fundamental role of the diaspora in promoting Cyprus as an investment destination and the goal of making Cyprus a secure, reliable, and attractive jurisdiction within the EU.
She emphasized the challenges Cyprus faced in compliance and the progress made in this area in recent years. The government, as she said, has undertaken a comprehensive reform program to enhance the country’s competitiveness and address these challenges.
Rir
i noted that Cyprus now maintains a stringent regulatory framework recognized by international rating agencies.
She also reported that approximately 1,600 international companies are registered in Cyprus annually, including 47 multinationals. She added that Cyprus closely collaborates with the EU to implement all sanction regulations and guidelines against terrorism financing and corruption.
Source: Cyprus News Agency