The development of the Larnaca port and marina project has attracted interest by Qatar and other countries and investment funds, Transport, Communications and Works Minister Alexis Vafeades told CNA on Thursday, adding that he would be presenting a time frame of the next steps to President Nikos Christodoulides after meeting with the city’s local actors.

His statements were echoed later by Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis who also said that the government’s aim is for the call for tenders to be announced as soon as possible for the project and expressed satisfaction that a number of countries in the region and EU member states are turning to Cyprus for possible investments.

Vafeades was replying to a CNA question about Qatar’s interest in the project as well as reports in the press about other interested investors, on the sidelines of an AI and cybersecurity in aviation conference, in Larnaca.

Qatar’s interest, he said, is believed to be part of a general interest by investment funds abroad and other countries who have observed Cyprus’ sound economic state and are wish to invest.

Qatar Emir’s visit earlier this week in Cyprus, he added, apart from being an official visit also had an explorative aspect “and I believe that the whole discussion about Larnaca marina and port took place in this framework.”

“We intend to go ahead with a call for tenders for the project, on the basis of procedures provided for in the public procurement legislation and we hope that when this happens, Qatar and other investors alike will be interested to take part in the tender,” Vafeades said.

The interest shown is important for us, he noted, adding that it is indicative of the fact that “Cyprus is an attractive investment destination, therefore we are going ahead with more hopes that we will be successful.”

Asked when the new call for tenders will be announced the Minister said that on Friday he would have a meeting with local actors in Larnaca to listen to their suggestions and accordingly a time frame will be put in place.

The President, he added, “has given clear directions that he wants us to handle the matter immediately, he has asked for a time frame”, noting that he has promised that after the meeting on Friday he would let the President know of the time frame set.

Vafeades also said that no problems are expected vis-à-vis the services offered to vessels in Larnaca port. “We are very satisfied because the port did not stop operating even for a moment, therefore the economy’s needs have been met,” he pointed out, adding that works for the implementation of the Amalthea initiative were also not interrupted.  

He also said he hoped that within the day the marina project would officially be handed over to the Transport Ministry.

On his part, Letymbiotis who was replying to journalists’ questions during a regular press briefing at the Presidential Palace later, said that it is well known “that there is interest in general for investments in our country,” and added that all necessary procedures should be followed for the specific project.

Invited to say the number of countries interested in the Larnaca port project apart from Qatar, the Spokesperson did not want to comment specifically but noted “with satisfaction that for a series of possible investments, our country is a quality, attractive destination.”

He added that various regional states and EU member states seem to turn to the Republic of Cyprus for possible investments something which “shows in the most emphatic way that the economic policy followed is the appropriate one.”