Minister of State for External Affairs, M. J. Akbar paid an official visit to Cyprus on 30 March – 1 April, 2017. The relations between India and Cyprus have been traditionally very close and friendly.
The main objective of the visit was to review present state of India-Cyprus relations in all fields and rejuvenate the historic friendly relations between the two countries.
India and Cyprus enjoy robust economic ties, with cumulative foreign investment of more than US$ 9 billion received in India through Cyprus. A revised Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement signed November last year is likely to facilitate more foreign investment.
There is a mechanism of Joint Economic Committee Meeting for discussing the ways boosting trade and investment. In this context, the Minister delivered a keynote address titled “A new era for business between Cyprus and India” to the business community at the Cyprus Chambers of Commerce & Industry in Nicosia.
The Minister also delivered a lecture titled “Balance of Power vs Pendulum of power” at UNESCO Amphitheatre, Europa Building, University of Nicosia on 30 March 2017.
To promote appreciation of cultural heritage and understanding, the Minister, during his stay in Cyprus, inaugurated “Konark Wheel”, a sculpture gifted by India to Cyprus and installed at the Open Air Museum of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nicosia.
