President Christodoulides announced six strategic measures on Thursday aimed at transforming the country’s defence industry.
Speaking at the second International Defence and Security Conference (“Battlefield Redefined 2024”), Christodoulides said the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East “remind us how fragile peace is and how crucial a state’s defence capabilities are”. He noted that Cyprus, particularly due to Turkey’s invasion and ongoing occupation, understands well the defence industry’s role in ensuring stability and countering hybrid threats.
“Given Cyprus’s EU membership and its location in a region of significant geopolitical importance and uncertainty, investment in this sector is not merely a duty but strategically essential”, he said.
The president unveiled six measures to strengthen Cyprus’s defence industry, including legislation to institutionalise high-tech defence manufacturing, establishing industrial cooperation for defence programmes, and creating a Defence Research, Technology and Industry Council as a presidential advisory body.
Additional measures include creating a National Register of Defence Industry Manufacturers in cooperation with the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, increasing funding for defence research and development, and government financing for national pavilions at major international defence exhibitions.
Christodoulides highlighted that 16 Cypriot companies have secured participation in 37 different contracts within the European Defence Industry Development Programme and European Defence Fund, with a total budget of 435 million euros.
The conference, running from 12-13 December, is organised by Cyprus Defence Multimedia Services in collaboration with the Cyprus Research and Innovation Companies Association and Cypriot Defence Industry Enterprises, under the aegis of the Ministry of Defence and the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
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