Stepped up bilateral cooperation between Limassol and Marseilles, in various areas, is expected to result from a recent visit to Marseilles of a Limassol municipality delegation in which the Limassol Chamber of Commerce & Industry was represented by its head of the international relations department, Board member Heros Miltiadous.

During the meetings held in Marseilles, the French side outlined the development model followed, starting in 1995 with the establishment of company bringing together the state and the provincial and local authorities, and resulted in Marseilles being transformed into a new, modern city with brand new buildings, hotels, offices, shops, roads, parks, etc, replacing the earlier image of certain places being dominated by deserted building and high rates of unlawfulness.

Also on the agenda were the prospects for cooperation between the two cities which, their obviously different sizes, have many common features, including being their countries; main ports, business and shipping centres, as well as tourist destinations.

Moreover, and in view of the recent invitation for bids for the Pentakomo Scientific & Technological Park, it is to be noted that Marseilles already has three fully operation techno parks, each of which has its own expertise. They operate under a free zone regime, with complete tax exemption for the first five years of operation and having to pay reduced taxes thereafter.

Recognizing that there is room for bilateral cooperation in several areas, Limassol and Marseilles are already contemplating their next moves forward, not of which is the exchange of business delegations.