NICOSIA - President of the European Investment Bank Werner Hoyer has sent the message that EIS is ready to help Cyprus to these difficult economic times that is going through.
Hoyer, who is paying a visit to Cyprus, accompanied by Cyprus Finance Minister Vasos Sharly, was received on Friday afternoon by President of t Christofias.
Speaking after the meeting, Hoyer said that the European Investment Bank has been active in Cyprus and bringing activity to the real economy, to bring funds to the real economy for more than 30 years. “And in these times of need and of economic difficulties it is, of course, necessary to be present in one of those countries who own us, because the EIB is the long term Investment Bank of the member states of the EU. It is the 27 who are our shareholders and of course Cyprus is included”, he added.
Hoyer noted that his visit to the island has an additional meaning because Cyprus is taking over the Presidency of the EU in a few weeks and, as he pointed out, “in the next six months I am going to serve under the guidance of the Cypriot Finance Minister.
The President of the EIB said that during his meeting with President Christofias, they had very good talks about the challenges that go along with the Presidency of the EU. “We had very good talks about the international, economic and financial situation. We talked about the Banking system of this country and the challenges that need to be met, we talked about future business opportunities and cooperation between Cyprus and the EU Bank and we talked about the fascinating perspectives that develop in the field of energy both in terms of gas and in terms of new energies and energy efficiencies”, he added.
Hoyer stressed that his visit to Cyprus was very worthy and added that his discussions with President Christofias also covered fields, which have to do with the international environment in one of the most important regions of this world, “where Cyprus plays a very important role”, as he pointed out.
Cyprus Minister of Finance said that “we are honoured because the EIB has been with us and has been working with us for now more than 30 years”.
Sharly stressed that the relationship between EIB and Cyprus has been an excellent one. “And having just explained to you the current situation that we are going through in Cyprus, we received a very strong message: The EIB is with us and ready to help us again to these very difficult times”, he said.
Cyprus Finance Minister said that it is not always easy to cope with situations, which they arise as the current one. “But fundamentally”, he continued, “we have the same aim and that is to support the economies of Europe and of the region, to support the SMEs, and this has been a main task during the last few years and we intend to continue specifically in this area”.
“The scope for further development is there and as the President of the EIB has explained we will pursue that during the coming years”, Sharly concluded. (CNA)