In a letter addressed to the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, the Limassol Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) expresses its support for the request of the Limassol District Local Government Organisation (EOA) for an extension of the secondment of a limited number of public servants, in order to ensure the smooth and effective operation of the Licensing Department.
As highlighted in the LCCI’s letter, the licensing of developments and investments is a critical factor for economic activity and business sustainability. It is stressed that Limassol’s businesses are already facing serious and prolonged delays, which directly affect the implementation of investment plans, liquidity, employment and, more broadly, the province’s development momentum.
“Taking into account that the staffing process of the Limassol EOA is currently underway and is expected to be completed within 2026, we consider it absolutely necessary to continue the transitional solution through the extension of the secondment of the required personnel,” states the President of the LCCI, Andreas Tsouloftas, who signed the letter. As he notes, this arrangement constitutes an essential prerequisite for maintaining a basic level of functionality in licensing procedures.
The Chamber underlines that fast and effective licensing is a key pillar of competitiveness and trust in the state, adding that approval of the extension would send a clear message of support for entrepreneurship and the country’s development effort. “We kindly request that you examine the matter positively and proceed with the necessary decisions, so as to avoid further dysfunctions and burdens for businesses,” the LCCI concludes, while also expressing its willingness to cooperate.
In recent months, the President of the LCCI has expressed strong concerns about a potential return to full dysfunction in the issuance of planning and building permits in Limassol, warning that the withdrawal of all Town Planning officers from the EOA could lead to a new multi-month “freeze” in licensing. As he noted, despite appeals to the Ministry of Interior — including a letter to the Minister — for at least eight to ten experienced officers to remain for the transitional period, the final decision was the recall of all personnel.
Andreas Tsouloftas also pointed out that Limassol has the highest volume of applications nationwide and is already facing enormous delays, even for simple developments. He stressed that a new period of paralysis would be disastrous for the city’s economy, the construction sector, investors and citizens alike.
He further indicated that the Chamber had received letters of concern from contractors, investment companies, architects and engineers, who warn of impending chaos should a new “blackout” in the issuance of permits occur.
In January, a meeting was held at the LCCI on the matter, with the President and management of the Limassol EOA, in order to clarify the actual situation of the Licensing Department and decide on further interventions. Following the meeting, the letter to the President of the Republic was sent.
The President of the Limassol EOA, Yiannis Tsouloftas, confirmed that the termination of the secondment of the majority of public servants has caused a serious blow to the operation of the Licensing Directorate. As he stated, 30 December 2025 was the last day of presence of the seconded officers, at a time when permit production had reached a particularly satisfactory level.
He noted that in December alone, more than 500 planning permits were issued — the highest number nationwide — stressing that “with the same staff, we managed to double productivity,” thanks to modern management methods, technological equipment and staff incentives.
The President of the EOA attributed the delays to the lengthy approval process of the organisational structure and budget by central government, noting that the organisational structure was finally approved in July 2025, almost one year after its submission. At the same time, he appealed to the Ministry of Interior for an extension of the secondment of four to five experienced officers for at least six months.
According to him, the Limassol EOA receives more than 1,000 applications per month for planning and building permits, while full staffing is expected to be completed by mid-2026. Until then, he warned that without immediate transitional support measures, delays are inevitable.
