The planned development of the old Larnaca airport by a Chinese company will be evaluated by the government before any final decision is taken, Communications and Works Minister, Efthimios Flourentzos stated today.
On the question, after the end of the press conference for the European campaign “eskills week”, about the arrival of Chinese investors in Cyprus for deliberations, negotiations and final signatures, Mr. Flourentzos said that as Communications Ministry they had a preliminary briefing by Hermes in relation to the planned development.
“We expect further information and data so as to evaluate the Ministry’s and government’s position on the proposed development”, he said.
The Minister stressed that thus round of deliberations must be completed so as to have more specific information in their hands. Hermes and the Chinese company were on consultations.
“We expect that we will have more concrete data to help us assess and get our decisions”, he added.
In a remark that the Chinese ask for more time for the investment than the rent which is of 19 years and that the Finance Minitry sees favourably their request for 50 years of rent, Mr. Flourentzos said that when the proposed development is assessed, the government will make its decisions in relation to the way they will address to this development either in relation to time or otherwise.
“It is a matter of assessment and the decisions will be taken on the right time”, he noted.
As regards to concerns on whether the same as Microsoft will happen, the Minister said that there has to be an agreement between the Chinese company and Hermes but at the same time with the government, because the government has convened with Hermes.
“Be sure we will take full advantage of this investment effort for the country and surely we can not afford to reject investments without evaluating them first”, he stressed.
On the question whether the Ministry is examining other issues too, Mr. Flourentzos said that several issues are currently under review, such as the Larnaca port and marina.
“The negotiation procedure with the investor proceeds. We hope that negotiations will be finalized in two months and the government will reach an agreement with the investor so that the latter proceeds with the funding process. As far as I know, the phases are three. The first phase starts with the layout of the port and the marina, followed by the construction of residential units, which can be constructed in advance from the first phase. Therefore, it is a combination phases, which doesn’t mean that they cannot be separated”, he said.
“We, as government, will help even in finding funding”, he concluded.
On the question, after the end of the press conference for the European campaign “eskills week”, about the arrival of Chinese investors in Cyprus for deliberations, negotiations and final signatures, Mr. Flourentzos said that as Communications Ministry they had a preliminary briefing by Hermes in relation to the planned development.
“We expect further information and data so as to evaluate the Ministry’s and government’s position on the proposed development”, he said.
The Minister stressed that thus round of deliberations must be completed so as to have more specific information in their hands. Hermes and the Chinese company were on consultations.
“We expect that we will have more concrete data to help us assess and get our decisions”, he added.
In a remark that the Chinese ask for more time for the investment than the rent which is of 19 years and that the Finance Minitry sees favourably their request for 50 years of rent, Mr. Flourentzos said that when the proposed development is assessed, the government will make its decisions in relation to the way they will address to this development either in relation to time or otherwise.
“It is a matter of assessment and the decisions will be taken on the right time”, he noted.
As regards to concerns on whether the same as Microsoft will happen, the Minister said that there has to be an agreement between the Chinese company and Hermes but at the same time with the government, because the government has convened with Hermes.
“Be sure we will take full advantage of this investment effort for the country and surely we can not afford to reject investments without evaluating them first”, he stressed.
On the question whether the Ministry is examining other issues too, Mr. Flourentzos said that several issues are currently under review, such as the Larnaca port and marina.
“The negotiation procedure with the investor proceeds. We hope that negotiations will be finalized in two months and the government will reach an agreement with the investor so that the latter proceeds with the funding process. As far as I know, the phases are three. The first phase starts with the layout of the port and the marina, followed by the construction of residential units, which can be constructed in advance from the first phase. Therefore, it is a combination phases, which doesn’t mean that they cannot be separated”, he said.
“We, as government, will help even in finding funding”, he concluded.
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