The Limassol Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Municipality of Limassol and the Cyprus University of Technology have reiterated their readiness for optimal cooperation towards the achievement of common goals.

Having instituted periodic contacts with each other earlier this year, on the initiative of the President of the Chamber Andreas Tsouloftas, the three bodies in June 10 in a meeting hosted by the Chamber and engaged in constructive conversation on several issues of common interest.

The agenda of the meeting included:

•  The newly established Innovation Center of Limassol Municipality, the focus of which will be on issues pertinent to blue growth, a promising sector that is in line with the character of the city

•  The long stalemated but recently re-emerging Science and Technology Park in Pentakomo, a project of great importance especially in the current situation where the main national objective is the restart of the economy and the long-term socio-economic course of the country, including in the framework the European Fund for Recovery and Sustainability

•  The further promotion of synergies between Chamber and University, including the placement of university students in companies-members of the Chamber for internships and (in the case of graduates) for full-time employment. Bilateral coordination at this level includes the recording / listing by the University of the offered fields of study and graduates and the corresponding recording by the Chamber of the needs of its member companies in terms scientific/skilled workforce.

•  The prospects and significant benefits, at academic and wider socio-economic level, that result from the participation of the University in the consortium intending to set up the European University of Technology.

•   The Municipality-University initiative for the inclusion of Limassol in the "Healthy Cities Network" of the World Health Organization, a network whose characteristics extend far beyond the health element from a strictly medical point of view and contains several other elements relating to quality of life. Formal accession to the network will significantly enhance Limassol’s attractiveness and competitiveness.

Chamber President. Andreas Tsouloftas, Mayor Nicos Nicolaides and the University Rector Professor Panagiotis Zafiris, expressed their satisfaction for the meeting and noted that they look forward to further cooperation between them. The next meeting of the three bodies will take place in early autumn and in the meantime an open communication channel remains between them