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In the words of William Shakespeare,
 
 
“You are welcome, Sir, to Cyprus”
 
 
 
 
Investing in Cyprus makes Sound Business Sense
 
  • Member of the European Union
  • Strategic location at the crossroads of three continents, serving as Europe's Middle Eastern outpost
  • Favourable tax regime including 10% corporation tax
  • Liberal Foreign Direct Investment regime
  • Simplified administrative procedures for acquiring necessary permits
  • Bilateral investment agreements with 17 countries
  • Low set up and operating costs
  • Highly qualified, well-educated and multilingual labour force
  • Double tax treaties with 40 countries
  • Freedom of movement of foreign currency
  • Availability of Freezones Bonded areas
  • Efficient legal, accounting and banking services
  • European standard of living
  • Pleasant climate and agreeable topography
  • Excellent telecommunications
  • Democratic country with a free market economy
  • Political stability
  • Low crime rate: one of the lowest in Europe
 
There's never been a better time to invest in Cyprus than right now
 
 
Table of Contents
 
1. Cyprus in Brief

2. Cyprus as a European Union Member State

3. The Economy

4. Foreign Direct Investment Policy 

        4.1 Direct Investment

          4.2 Portfolio Investment

          4.3 Acquisition of Real Estate

          4.4 Exchange Control

          4.5 Other Laws and Regulations


5. Foreign Investors Service Centre

6. Registration of Companies

7. Labour Environment

8. Investment Incentives 

        8.1 High Technology - Business Incubators

          8.2 High Technology - Research & Development

          8.3 Testing and Laboratories for Quality Assurance

          8.4 Government Guarantee Scheme for Loans Granted to SMEs of the Manufacturing Sector

          8.5 Subsidisation of Specific Studies and Projects

          8.6 State Grants for Upgrading the Manufacturing Sector

          8.7 Grant Scheme for Energy Conservation and the Promotion of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) Utilisation

          8.8 Incentives for the Export Promotion of Industrial Products

          8.9 Grant Scheme for the Encouragement, Strengthening, and Reinforcement of Entrepreneurship

          8.10 Programme for the Enhancement of Manufacturing and Trading of Agricultural Products

          8.11 Investment Incentives for the Services Sector

9. Fiscal Incentives 

        9.1 Corporate Tax

          9.2 Personal Income Tax

          9.3 Value Added Tax

          9.4 Special tax treatments

          9.5 Holding Companies’ Jurisdiction Incentives

10. The Larnaca Free Zone

Appendices
 
            
 
       
“Investing in Cyprus - A guide for foreign investors” was prepaired by the Foreign Investors Service Centre. Unless otherwise stated, the text is based on information available up to March 2005.
 
This publication is intended to provide general guidance only. Should you need advice on any specific matter, please contact the Foreign Investors Service Centre (6 Andreas Araouzos Street, 1421 Nicosia, Cyprus - Tel.: +357 22 867100/ 867239 - Fax: +357 22 375541 - e-mail: ids@mcit.gov.cy)
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