Nicosia: The American Chamber of Commerce in Cyprus (AmCham Cyprus) recently hosted its flagship Executive Forum 2026, titled ‘From Compliance to Competitiveness: The Complete AI Leadership Agenda’. The event served as a significant platform for government and business leaders, policymakers, and technology experts to discuss the transformative role of AI in industries and how it can convert regulatory compliance into a driver for innovation and competitive advantage.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the forum was organized by the Digital Transformation and Fintech Committee and began with opening remarks from Mr. Paris P. Savva, Regional Manager Cyprus at Fortinet and Head of AmCham Committee on Digital Transformation and Fintech. He emphasized AI’s growing role as a key factor in competitiveness across various industries.
The keynote address was delivered by Mr. Khaliq Khan, Vice President and Global Lead at Kyndryl Vital. He discussed the global shift towards AI-first approaches, focusing on enhancing customer experiences, optimizing operations, and leveraging data-driven decision-making to create new value.
Professor St©phanie Laulh© Shaelou from UCLan Cyprus provided insights into the EU AI Act, explaining its core principles and regulatory requirements. Her presentation illuminated the European regulatory landscape, offering practical guidance for organizations aiming to innovate responsibly while maintaining compliance in an AI-centric economy.
The first panel, moderated by Mr. Michael Tyrimos from Capacitor Partners, examined how AI can drive innovation and boost business competitiveness. Panelists, including Mr. Demetris Skourides, Mr. Gerasimos Ntouskas, Mr. Minos Georgakis, and Ms. Niki Ioannou, discussed the strategic use of AI in Cyprus’ economic agenda, emphasizing data-driven decision-making and operational efficiency.
The second panel, led by Dr. Maria Terzi, focused on the practical challenges of deploying AI systems. Dr. Nicodemos Damianou highlighted the importance of aligning AI initiatives with national and European priorities. Panelists Mr. Flavio Arzarello, Mr. Demetris Nicolaou, Mr. Christos Eojourian, and Mr. Nicolas Mesaritis explored regulatory complexities, data protection, and building ethical AI frameworks.
Mr. Theodoros Loukaides from the Research and Innovation Foundation spoke about funding opportunities for AI adoption, encouraging organizations to utilize national and European resources.
The event concluded with a networking reception, fostering strategic partnerships among participants. AmCham Cyprus acknowledged the contributions of its sponsors, including Fortinet, Bank of Cyprus, CYTA, Kyndryl, Meta, KPMG, The Magnet, Kraken Cyprus, and RedWolfOgilvy.