12 December President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides
announced
that the country must transform from a consumer of defense products into a manufacturer. This happened at the opening of the international conference on defense and security Battlefield ReDEFiNED 2024 in Nicosia.
“I am announcing a series of targeted measures to further support and strengthen in practice, and not just in words, our defense industry,” the head of state stated, announcing the preparation of legislation on the institutionalization of the high-tech defense industry.
Christodoulides announced the establishment of a council for defense research, technology and industry, the formation of a national register of defense manufacturers in cooperation with the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, increased funding for defense research and development and government funding for national pavilions at international exhibitions.
“The goal is to transform our defense industry, position Cyprus as a center of advanced defense technology and enhance our country's ability to make a meaningful and valuable contribution to Europe's collective security system,” Christodoulides explained.
The president said the ongoing war in Ukraine, along with regional conflicts in the Middle East, underscores the fragility of peace. He added that Turkey's 1974 invasion, Cyprus' membership of the EU and the fact that it is located in a region of "great geopolitical importance and uncertainty" make defense investment "not just an obligation, but a strategic imperative."
Christodoulides noted that over the past five years, 16 Cypriot companies, with the support of the Ministry of Defense, have participated in 37 contracts of the European Defense Industrial Development Program, as well as the European Defense Fund, which approved contracts with a total budget of about 435 million euros for the development of new generation European defense systems.
“Thanks to this, our defense industry has received advanced infrastructure and valuable experience, which has allowed Cyprus to become one of the reliable manufacturers in the European defense systems supply chain,” concluded the President of the Republic of Cyprus.
Details
Jobs for scientists will be created in the defense industry. The naval and air force bases of Cyprus will be modernized.
Photo: Cyprus News Agency
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