Cyprus In Brief

The Island has a unique location which has been the key to its fascinating history throughout the last forty centuries. In modern time, Cyprus has become, since the early 80’s a major international business center offering unrivalled access to major international markets with a dynamic outlook on business life. Cyprus offer, to international businessmen, and investors the island’s excellent infrastructure, European English legal system, high quality of life and low cost of living, its well educated labour force, good industrial relations and generous tax incentives. Cyprus is a key international business location and a full E.U. member since 1st  May 2004.

Geography And Population

Cyprus is situated in the eastern Mediterranean, and links Western Europe with the Arab World and the Far East. Cyprus’ total area is 9.251 sq kms and is comparable in size to Lebanon in the Middle East. The island’s time zone is 2 hours ahead of London, 7 hours ahead of New York and 7 hours behind Tokyo.
The island enjoys the typical of Mediterranean climate.

Cyprus’ estimated population is 750.000 of which over 80 per cent belongs to the Greek Cypriot community and less than 20 percent to the Turkish Cypriot community, foreign residents. Greek and Turkish are the official languages of the Republic but English is wilely spoken and understood, and is regularly used in commerce and government. The capital, is Nicosia, with an estimated population of about 200.000. Limassol is the second largest city and the island’s biggest port. Larnaca and Paphos, which are popular holiday resorts, are the third and fourth largest cities, respectively.

Famagusta was the second most important city: until 1974 when Turkey invaded the island and illegally still occupies about one third of the island’s territory.