Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry George Papanastasiou is in New York, where he will take part in Friday's Economist's - Eastern Mediterranean Business Summit, and will have a series of meetings, including with the US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources, Geoffrey R. Pyatt.

A statement from the Ministry of Energy said that Papanastasiou will give interviews to major US media outlets, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Forbes.

Papanastasiou's contacts began Thursday, with a meeting with the leadership of the Cyprus-American Chamber of Commerce and the Cyprus Federation of America.

Today, the Minister will participate in two panels of the Economist's Business Summit, with the first one on business opportunities in Cyprus and Greece ("A promising narrative for prosperity and growth through business ventures").

Papanastasiou will present the Cyprus competitive advantages as an international business centre, as well as the investment opportunities created in specific sectors. A discussion will follow with the participation of the Greek Minister of Development and Competitiveness Konstantinos Skrekas.

The second panel, which will also include Pyatt and Skrekas and the Secretary General of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum, Osama Mobarez, on "Energy security and supply in critical times". During his initial statement, the Minister will present the energy strategy of Cyprus and the initiatives undertaken for the creation of the Eastern Mediterranean Energy Corridor to Europe.

The Cypriot Minister is also scheduled to have private meetings with Pyatt and the Executive Director of the American Jewish Committee (AJC), Ted Deutch. He returns home on Saturday.