Nicosia: The visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates a ‘new chapter’ in Cyprus-India relations, Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis told the Cyprus News Agency.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Letymbiotis spoke of a ‘historic visit’ by the Indian Prime Minister, who arrives in Cyprus on Sunday, saying that it is not only a diplomatic moment of high symbolism, but also a ‘strategic investment in the common future of the two countries, at a time when the geo-economic map of the region is being redefined.’
Nicosia and New Delhi seek to build a strategic partnership based on shared values, mutual respect, and realistic ambition, the Spokesperson notes. He mentions that the main aim of the visit is for Cyprus to act as a gateway for India’s businesses to the European market. This objective is part of a broader strategy of Cyprus to become a hub for the interconnection of capital, technologies, and innovative practices between Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. India,
as a rising global power, is seen as a crucial partner in this strategy.
According to Letymbiotis, the visit comes at a time when bilateral relations are deepening, just six months before Cyprus assumes the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU. This factor, according to the Spokesperson, strengthens the prospect of an open EU-India dialogue with Cyprus acting as a bridge. The two leaders, Nikos Christodoulides and Narendra Modi, aim to enhance cooperation for the benefit of their peoples and regional security.
Technology and Innovation are vital components of the bilateral agenda. Specific proposals have been put forward for cooperation in IT, startup support, education, and tourism. Limassol is set to host a business roundtable with entrepreneurs from both countries, signaling the depth and dynamics of the economic relationship.
According to the Government Spokesperson, the cooperation extends beyond the bilateral framework. The historic India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) is a proje
ct of strategic importance that seeks to reshape trade flows and geo-economic balances between continents. Nicosia aspires to become a hub in this network, offering stability, interconnectivity, and reliability.
Letymbiotis also highlights the symbolic significance of the joint visit by the Prime Minister of India and the President of Cyprus to the Green Line, which separates the Turkish-occupied areas from the free areas of Cyprus. This move underscores awareness of Cyprus’s historical reality and highlights the Cyprus issue on an international level, enhancing the political value of the visit.
He notes that Modi’s visit is a turning point in Cyprus-India relations, based on a vision with specific policies and part of a foreign policy focused on extroversion and geostrategic utilization. Cyprus, as a reliable partner contributing to regional stability, welcomes the Indian Prime Minister with the belief that the future relations between the two countries will be dynamic, substantial, and strategically impor
tant.
The Indian Prime Minister’s itinerary includes his arrival at the “Glafcos Clerides” International Airport in Larnaca, followed by a business roundtable in Limassol. On Monday, he will be officially received at the Presidential Palace, where he will have a private meeting with President Christodoulides, who will honor him with the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III. Extensive talks will follow, covering issues related to bilateral relations, EU-India relations, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, the Middle East and South Asia situation, and the Cyprus issue.
Later, the two leaders will visit Nicosia City Hall and tour the ceasefire line. The President of Cyprus will host an official lunch for Prime Minister Modi at the Presidential Palace before his departure from Cyprus.