The 8th Cypriot-Italian Business Forum, held on December 11th at the prestigious headquarters of Unioncamere in Rome, reaffirmed the importance of Italy-Cyprus bilateral cooperation, bringing together high-level institutional representatives, leading companies, and business leaders from both countries under the theme “Italian-Cypriot Economic Bridge for Mediterranean Development: Towards a 2030 Vision.”
The Forum, moderated by Vice President of the Chamber Federico Franchina, following the opening remarks of President Giuseppe Marino, was honored by the remote participation of His Excellency Alexis Vafeades, Minister of Transport, Communications and Public Works of the Republic of Cyprus, representing the Cypriot Government. Minister Vafeades, also a former member of the Chamber’s Advisory Board, emphasized the strategic importance of infrastructure and connectivity cooperation between the two nations in the context of Mediterranean regional development.
On the Italian side, the Forum benefited from the presence of the Honorable Federica Onori, Secretary of the Standing Committee for International and EU Affairs of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, whose participation underscored parliamentary support for Italy-Cyprus bilateral relations. Hon. Onori who has recently participated in a conference organized by the Chamber at the Eastern Mediterranean Energy Conference in Limassol, demonstrating her personal commitment to strengthening ties between the two countries, mentioned among the priorities shared by both countries the security of energy corridors and the development of innovative processes for institutions and enterprises.
The institutional framework was further strengthened by the participation of Marina Scognamiglio, Director of the ICE Agency for Lebanon, Cyprus and Syria, connected remotely, and by the contribution of Vincenzo Ercole Salazar Sarsfield, Coordinator for Infrastructure and Major Projects at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Their involvement, together with important industial participation, demonstrated the commitment of the Sistema Italia to strengthen Italy’s strategic partnerships in the Mediterranean.
The Forum was enriched by the participation of other important Cypriot speakers including Stavros Stavrou, President of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, co-organizer of the Forum under whose aegis operates the Cyprus-Italy Business Association led by Costas Katsaros, also Vice President of the Italian-Cypriot Chamber of Commerce. Their continuous support is always fundamental to the success of this annual initiative, which alternates between Italy and Cyprus.
Mario Tannousis, CEO of Invest Cyprus, underscored the essential role of investment promotion in strengthening bilateral economic relations and highlighted Cyprus’s strategic positioning as a Mediterranean business hub.
The Embassy of Cyprus in Rome was represented by Christos Liperis on behalf of His Excellency Ambassador Yiorgos Christofides, demonstrating the strong diplomatic ties between the two countries and ongoing support for the business community in the context of bilateral initiatives.
The Forum showcased the best of Italian industrial and business excellence, with participation from some of the most strategically important companies, demonstrating the importance of coordinated system actions.
ENI, represented by Marco Piredda, Head of International Public Affairs, highlighted the strategic importance of energy cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean, particularly in the context of Cyprus’s role in regional energy security.
Leonardo, represented by Silvio Liuzzi, VP Marketing NATO, Europe and Israel, presented collaboration opportunities in the aerospace, defense, and cybersecurity sectors. In this context, the Chamber recently promoted a Memorandum of Understanding between AIAD (Italian Aerospace, Defense and Security Industries Association) and its Cypriot counterpart CARIE, which will soon lead to a dedicated trade mission.
DBA Group, represented by Alessandra Citterio, Project Manager Expert, provided a concrete example of effective “system action” between institutions and the private sector. The company recently won the tender for the cold ironing project at Limassol Port, demonstrating the tangible results achievable when Italian companies receive coordinated institutional support.
BTINKEENG, represented by President Giovanni Vaia, contributed with the presentation of innovative IT engineering solutions, highlighting relevant experience in the Italian public sector and interest in positioning itself in the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean.
Valla Consulting, represented by CEO and founder Valerio Valla, an expert in European programming, focused on the reference context and the main areas of collaboration in this field.
The European House Ambrosetti – an important Italian Think Tank – represented by Simone Ginesi, shared insights on global attractiveness and regional competitiveness, mentioning possible plans for the development of specific activities in Cyprus in the coming months, currently being discussed with the Chamber’s leadership.
A specific panel was dedicated to the healthcare sector. Solventum (formerly 3M Health Care) represented by Paolo Capelli, EMEA Market Access Manager, focused on value-based healthcare protocols for the Mediterranean area, and QCG Healthcare (UAE) with Board Member Tahir Hussain, who contributed by offering Middle Eastern perspectives on integrated healthcare delivery systems. M.S. Jacovides Group, represented by Executive Manager Chryssie Jacovides, provided an overview of Cyprus’s healthcare market.
A particularly significant moment of the Forum was the presentation of the inaugural Ambassador Minas Hadjimichael Memorial Award, jointly established by the Italian-Cypriot Chamber of Commerce and the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This year, the Chamber had the privilege of honoring Marco Piredda, Head of International Public Affairs at ENI, whose important contribution to the development and strengthening of relations between Italy and Cyprus embodies the spirit of partnership and the legacy that Ambassador Minas so passionately advocated.
The timing of this year’s Forum was particularly significant as Cyprus prepares to assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. This period offers a unique opportunity to strengthen Italy-Cyprus cooperation at the European level and position both countries as key players in Mediterranean development initiatives.
The event reaffirmed how the platform represented by Chambers of Commerce can contribute meaningfully to European cooperation and development in the Mediterranean– as recently emphasized by President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola.
As Giuseppe Marino, President of the Italian-Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, underscored in his opening remarks, the Forum represents more than an annual event – it embodies a concrete commitment to building sustainable partnerships that will shape the future of Mediterranean cooperation.
Since its founding in 2016 and official recognition by the Italian government in 2019, the Chamber has worked to build bridges not merely between two nations, but between ideas, opportunities and people who share a common vision for prosperity in the Mediterranean.
The 8th Forum demonstrated that this vision is becoming reality. The combination of high-level institutional support, leading corporate participation and concrete business opportunities creates the ideal conditions to transform dialogue into action and vision into concrete results.
The success of the 8th Cypriot-Italian Business Forum sets an ambitious benchmark for future editions. With Cyprus’s upcoming EU Presidency and the continued strengthening of Sistema Italia’s presence in the Eastern Mediterranean, the partnership between Italy and Cyprus is poised for significant growth.
The Forum proved that when institutions, businesses and thought leaders unite around a shared vision – supported by the memory and legacy of champions like Ambassador Minas Hadjimichael – remarkable achievements become possible.
The Italian-Cypriot Chamber of Commerce looks forward with confidence to continuing its mission of building bridges, creating opportunities, and fostering the Mediterranean partnership that will carry both nations confidently toward 2030 and beyond.
For information about this article and the activities of the Italian-Cypriot Chamber of Commerce: segreteria@camcomitacipro.it
Last modified: December 16, 2025