Areas in the British Bases visited by the Minister of Commerce (PICTURES)

Within the month and in March, the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry announces new plans for energy upgrades of companies with a budget of € 35 million and for energy upgrades of local authorities with a budget of € 9 million, and for sponsorship for modernization and digital processing or marketing of agricultural products. The total amount that will be allocated for the needs of the announcement amounts to € 25 million.

These plans were mentioned by Minister Natasa Peleidou during her visit on Friday to industries inside the British Bases in the free province of Famagusta. A press release sent to the media on Saturday states that the Minister's contacts, both with businessmen and with community leaders and representatives of community councils, focused on outlining the challenges they face, finding solutions and prospects for further business development in region, but also in its transition to green growth.

According to the press release, the industries, located inside the British Bases, offer vocational rehabilitation to a not insignificant number of residents from the region, including several young people, thus supporting the effort to contain the population. in the countryside and maintaining the social fabric in the communities.

A key request of communities and entrepreneurs is the expansion or creation of new craft areas, which will provide the opportunity to provide space, on the one hand to small businesses that are scattered in the communities to establish their units and on the other hand to already established industries to expand and grow up.

As the Minister pointed out, the goal of the IEEB is, in cooperation with all partners, to contribute to addressing the issues that hinder the smooth operation of businesses so that the industry sector continues to be a stable pillar of development for the region. Contacts and meetings are already underway to find ways to expand and create new craft areas in collaboration with other relevant Ministries.

Ms. Pileidou also called on the industrialists and businessmen of the region, as well as the community authorities, to proceed with their studies, so that, when the sponsorship plans of the YEEB for energy upgrade of companies are announced next month, they will be ready to submit their applications.

The Minister also referred to the announcement of a special sponsorship plan, in collaboration with the Ministry. Agriculture, for the use of photovoltaics in the agricultural sector. The main goal of the project is to reduce the cost of pumping irrigation water. The plan will be announced this year.

He informed that within February, the YEEB will proceed with the announcement of the sponsorship plan for the modernization and the digital upgrade of units for processing or marketing of agricultural products. The Plan will be presented at an online event next Wednesday.