SMEs, agriculture backbone of economy says Neophytou

Private initiative is the primary support of an economy, Disy President Averof Neophytou said on Sunday.

Speaking in Paphos, he said he supported a reduction in taxes and an increase in incentives for Cypriot business. He also added that “small and medium-sized enterprises are the ones to create jobs” but also through their profitability help “through taxes to boost government revenues”.

It through the revenues and taxes of small and medium-sized enterprises, that the government can continue to operate the state machine as well as strengthening its social policy.

The Disy president estimated that the state’s finances are “going well” and are “on the right road”, although he said there is always the danger of losing this course if we do not continue with responsibility and seriousness.

There are always, he said, “twists and turns”, which is why we have to be careful to keep the economy on the right course.

Having taken a tour of villages in the Paphos countryside on Saturday, Neophytou said that while the health of the economy is dependent on the one hand on SMEs, it is also values the people of rural communities.

We must support and continue to support agriculture because this primary sector is very important for the people involved in these jobs as well as for Cyprus in general, he added.

He was speaking after an event organised by the Leptos Group which included a tree planting ceremony near Coral Bay.