HERMES Airports Ltd, the consortium in charge of operating and managing the island’s two airports, has confirmed reports that it is negotiating a sizeable investment involving the construction of exhibition showrooms and a logistical services centre at the old Larnaca airport building with an unnamed Chinese company.
Airports’ spokesman Adamos Aspris said the consortium has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese company, following months of “discreet talks”.
The MoU would “pave the way for more substantive talks” between the two sides, with a view to achieving “one of the largest investments ever made in our country,” Aspris said.
The Chinese company’s proposal involves the creation of a large commercial showroom for Chinese products and also a logistical services centre, he added.
“The logistical centre will be based at the old Larnaca airport, and will constitute the bridge linking China to Europe, Africa to the Middle East,” he added.
“In effect, Cyprus will become a gateway for Chinese products to Europe, the Middle East and Africa.”
He declined to go into specifics, saying it was still too early for that.
The investment put up by the Chinese is rumoured to be worth about €1 billion. On the Cyprus end, the project would create hundreds of jobs, hopefully increase the number of visitors to the island, and also attract managerial staff from Chinese companies whose products will be on display at the showroom.
Larnaca Mayor Andreas Louroudjiatis welcomed the news, saying he hoped the investment went ahead to help boost the town’s growth.
“The old airport area definitely needs to be developed and it can contribute to the town’s growth,” said Louroudjiatis. “But these are just nice words for the time being. We haven’t seen any practical samples of these investments, this development, this determination that we want to implement in our town. We are waiting.”
He said his municipality was ready to help in any way it could, by providing easy procedures to settle the legal aspects.
“This is why we created a specific committee at the municipal council that involves promoting investments,” Louroudjiatis explained. “We want to send out the message that it is time for Larnaca to achieve the growth that it deserves.”
