During his official visit to India, H.E. Nikos Christodoulides, the President of Cyprus and his delegation said bilateral relations have been elevated to a strategic partnership, reflecting a vibrant and growing cooperation across defence, technology and tourism. The President noted that cooperation between defence industries will be strengthened and announced that the Cyprus Defence Minister will visit India soon to explore additional avenues for collaboration. He emphasized Cyprus’s strategic importance for maritime security and reiterated support for the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), observing that recent geopolitical developments in West Asia have made defence and maritime cooperation particularly vital.
The President highlighted the outcomes of the India–Cyprus Business Forum held in Mumbai the previous day, where he announced the establishment of a new Cyprus Trade Centre in Mumbai that will begin operations on 1 September 2026. He added that more Cypriot diplomats will be deployed in New Delhi and that a Euro bank office will open in Mumbai to facilitate increased economic engagement. Emphasizing the role of the private sector, he said businesses will be central to expanding trade and investment links, and that alternative, stable supply chains are increasingly important — a role Cyprus is well placed to play.
Among the official visit’s outcomes was an MoU on data and technology. The President described Cyprus as an emerging hub for data exchange, connected by 12 undersea cables and positioning itself as a “data highway” that can partner with India, a global hub for public digital delivery. He identified cybersecurity, AI, green technology, clean tech, biotech, and skills and research mobility as priority areas for cooperation, stressing investments in these fields as key aspects of the bilateral relationship going forward.
On the multilateral front, the President reiterated Cyprus’s support for UN and UNSC reforms in light of recent geopolitical developments and welcomed the finalization of the EU–India FTA during Cyprus’s presidency. He recalled a symbolic visit by 27 EU commissioners to Cyprus during that term and stressed that Cyprus serves as a gateway to the European economy for India, while noting that Mediterranean partners such as Italy also provide multiple gateways rather than posing competition.
The President also announced that the first Bollywood film to be shot in Cyprus will commence filming in the coming months, with release expected in a year or more, highlighting growing cultural ties between the two countries. He noted that deliberations during the visit covered the Investment Protection Agreement, maritime and cyber dialogue, and a green hydrogen dialogue, all of which form parts of a joint comprehensive agenda.
In conversation with our editor, the President also addressed the implications of the EU–India FTA for bilateral ties, stating that the agreement is expected to increase India’s trade with Europe and that Cyprus is well positioned to act as a gateway to the European market. He emphasized the importance of deepening economic partnerships through strengthened technology and business cooperation, and highlighted the pivotal role of the private sector in advancing commercial relations. He identified AI, green technologies, clean tech and cybertech as areas of especially strong potential for future collaboration between Cyprus and India.
