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Anastasiades: Cyprus has managed to get over three seismic crises

20/02/2023 16:20

Cyprus has managed to get over three seismic crises - the economic crisis of 2013, the pandemic and the war in Ukraine - Cyprus President, Nicos Anastasiades said on Monday speaking at a luncheon during which the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KEVE) Executive Committee honoured and thanked him for their productive cooperation during his tenure. 

Anastasiades said that history will soberly judge the work that has been done after the tense climate that follows an election period and pledged that he will remain an active citizen who will exert his influence towards any direction he can so that the country will continue its course with stability, economic prosperity and budgetary discipline.

The lunch was also attended apart from the KEVE leadership by House President Annita Demetriou and most of the Council of Ministers members.

During his speech, President Anastasiades said he was touched by the recognition of his cooperation with KEVE, noting that "without your support any policies we promoted would not have born fruit".

He noted that with the cooperation of all partners in the economy they were able to address the crises successfully, adding that contrary to IMF forecasts and despite the war in Ukraine and the sanctions which the EU had to impose on Russia, Cyprus managed to have a growth rate of 5.8% in 2022 and his government leaves a surplus to the next one. 

Moreover he said that preconditions were created for further economic growth, adding that as a result of the budgetary discipline and the economic prosperity the government was able to implement radical social policies, adding that important reforms were also promoted to do with the functionality of the state. 

On his part, KEVE President, Christodoulos Agastiniotis, underlined that as his term of office comes to its end Nicos Anastasiades leaves a surplus of more than 500 million euros in public coffers and a programme for the support of the economy and the society amounting to 4,4 billion euros -  the money of the Recovery and Resilience Fund

Agastiniotis praised Anastasiades' administration and the way it managed the 2013 financial crisis, the consequences of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, while he also elaborated on the reforms which were implemented such as the General Health System and the establishment of Deputy Ministries of Tourism, Innovation and Social Welfare. 

Moreover he noted that Anastasiades addressed the concerns of businesspeople with understanding, consensus and a spirit of cooperation.

Agastiniotis handed over to Anastasiades an album with photos depicting the outgoing President's cooperation with KEVE and the local chambers.