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Geopolitical stability and business friendly government

Advantages & opportunities to investing offshore via Cyprus (EU):

• Cyprus: EU, Eurozone & Commonwealth
• Ideal Geographical location for investment services
• Geopolitical stability & business friendly Government
• Macroeconomic resilience & growth
• Well developed infrastructure for investment services
• Restructured Cypriot banking sector
• Most favourable tax planning system in the EU
• Cyprus International Business Company (IBC)

Cyprus is a liberal open market economy, with great flexibility for conducting business and a system set up for encouraging foreign investment. The country revised its policy on foreign direct investment almost two decades ago, permitting 100% foreign ownership in certain cases. Regulations on foreign portfolio investment in the Cyprus Stock Exchange have been liberalised. Additionally, Cyprus passed a modern banking law, incorporating all the provisions and directives of the EU for the prudential supervision of credit institutions. Business growth is facilitated by a relatively transparent and efficient regulatory framework. The financial sector has also become more open and efficient with strict but sensible supervision, and the government has taken measures to improve its public finance.

The country's legal system is based on the constitution of 1960. Unicameral House of Representatives elected for a five-year term by direct universal suffrage; at present, only 56 members sit in the legislature; an additional three special representatives of the Maronite and Armenian minorities are elected in a separate vote. Head of State in Cyprus is a directly elected president with executive powers, who serves a five-year term. The Republic of Cyprus; the internationally recognised government of the island, but its writ does not run in the unrecognised north. All references to Cyprus refer to the area controlled by the Republic of Cyprus.

"Cyprus has very healthy geopolitical relationships with countries in the region; EU, Europe, Russia and CIS, Middle East, North Africa, as well as with many more around the world, such as the USA, Australia, Canada, India, and China. This includes many bilateral and economical agreements."

Cyprus has been a full European Union member state since 2004 and in the euro zone since 2008, whilst enjoying excellent geopolitical relationships with neighbouring countries in the Middle East and North Africa (Arab and Israeli), as well as Eastern European countries, Russia and CIS. Indeed, it is these healthy relationships and close connections that make Cyprus such a popular destination for investment, trade, professional services, business, and tourism, whilst allowing the country to thrive economically. Bilateral relations with nations further away are also very healthy, such as with the USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa, India and the People's Republic of China, among others.

Over the last decade, Cyprus has successfully completed a programme of reforming financial sector legislation in line with international best practice and has implemented a simplified, effective and transparent tax system which is fully compliant with the EU, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and Financial Stability Forum (FSF). Since EU accession, Cyprus has harmonised local regulations to the Acquis Communautaire, allowing the country to further develop as a key financial and fund centre.

• European Union (2004) and Eurozone (2008)
• The Council of Europe (1961)
• United Nations (1960)
• The World Trade Organisation (1995)
• The World Bank (1962)
• The Commonwealth (1961)