Mumbai, India. Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides on Thursday rang the bell to close the day’s trading at India’s national stock exchange, using the occasion to encourage Indian businesses to invest in Cyprus. The appearance came on a day when stock prices in India largely stagnated amid concerns of inflation.
Cyprus positioned as gateway for Indian investment
In his speech at the stock exchange, Christodoulides said Cyprus has “consistently acted as a trusted partner in a rapidly evolving region”. He said Cyprus serves as “a natural gateway between India, Europe, and the wider eastern Mediterranean”, combining political and economic stability with ambition, innovation, and a future-focused outlook.
Call for deeper business and financial cooperation
Christodoulides said Cyprus’ partnership with India is “valuable to us” and called for enhancing political ties into deeper business, investment, and financial cooperation. He urged investors to build stronger links between business communities, encourage greater two-way investment, and create new partnerships in financial services, technology, innovation, shipping, connectivity, and energy.
Reference to exchange memorandum of understanding
He referred to a memorandum of understanding signed last year between India’s national stock exchange’s international exchange and the Cyprus stock exchange, calling it “an important milestone” in strengthening financial and investment ties. He said the agreement reflects a shared ambition to create stronger links between the Indian and European financial ecosystems and to open new pathways for investment, capital markets cooperation, and financial connectivity.
Role of institutions in EU-India connectivity
Christodoulides said institutions such as India’s national stock exchange can play an important role in facilitating the growing strategic partnership between the EU and India, creating “significant opportunities for our economies, businesses, and markets”.
What areas of cooperation between Cyprus and India would you like to see develop most in the coming years?