By Andrea Sophocleous
THE 23RD Cyprus International Fair was hailed last night by President Glafcos Clerides as “the major trade and economic event of the year”.
The President opened the annual fair in Nicosia last night in the presence of official guests from the participating countries.
In his opening speech, the President said that the international fair was “a fundamental factor in the development of the export and import trade of Cyprus and has contributed decisively to the strengthening of our trade, industrial and economic relations with other countries.”
He added that “Cyprus’ aspiration to join the European Union and the new competitive climate that is developing do not leave room for hesitation and delay.”
He welcomed “a new era, where new ideas, new products and services and new technologies and know-how are developing and circulating with unprecedented speed.”
The President went on to outline the government’s policy ingredients, including “increasing our competitiveness, making more rational utilisation of our comparative advantages coupled with the improvement of the goods and services we offer, and taking advantage of the tremendous prospects opening up in the Middle East and in Central and Eastern Europe.”
The Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Nicos Rolandis expressed his ministry’s support for the fair as an institution, “because as we all know exhibitions work as a tool for economic development.”
“This institution,” he added, “acquires special importance today with the globalisation of trade and national economies in the new environment of increasing international competition and trade liberalisation.”
The fair opens to the general public today and displays the products and services of 1,528 companies from Cyprus and 33 countries in 387 pavilions and stands.
State Fairs Authority Chairman Demetris Ioannou said the objectives of the fair “are to develop local and international trade, to promote exports of Cypriot industrial products and services, to inform businessmen, and to promote healthy and fair competition.”
On weekdays, the fair will be open from 6.30pm to 11.30pm, on Saturdays from 6pm to midnight and on Sundays from 6pm to 11.30pm. The fair runs until May 31.
