Category: Cyprus News Agency

Trainings to enhance the knowledge and skills of beekeepers in Cyprus begin on October 17, 2026, with a focus on sustainability, innovation and new business opportunities.

The Interreg NEXT MED project PLANBEE – Promoting Local Apiary Networks and Bee Entrepreneurial Excellence announces the launch of the second cycle of training programs in Cyprus, entitled “Beekeeping – From Science to Practice”, inviting beekeepers who wish to upgrade their knowledge, improve their practices and respond more effectively to the modern challenges of the sector.

The program combines scientific knowledge with practical experience, focusing on issues that directly affect the health of bees, the productivity of beekeeping units and the sustainability of beekeeping activity. At the same time, it highlights possibilities for utilizing the products of the hive and developing new business prospects.

Training Program

The training program includes three thematic units, with a total duration of 16 hours, which will take place in person and online:

Saturday 17 October 2026, 08:45 – 16:45 Skarinou Environmental Education Center – Bee Pathology – Enemies and Diseases. Instructor, Dr. Alexandros Papachristoforou, Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Science, University of Thessaly.

Wednesday 21 October 2026, 16:30 – 20:30 online – Hive products, processing prospects and financial tools. Trainer: Christina Christodoulou – Agronomist, Organic Farmer, Beekeeper and experienced trainer.

Friday, October 30, 2026, 16:30 – 20:30 online – Bee flora and climate change impacts. Instructor: Dr. Dimitris Sarris, Senior Lecturer KES COLLEGE, Director of KES Research Centre.

Participation is free, while the training will take place in Greek. All participants who successfully complete the program will receive a Certificate of Attendance, with the support of the Cyprus Beekeepers Association.

From education to business development – New opportunities through PLANBEE

In addition to enhancing technical knowledge, PLANBEE creates prospects for further professional and business development for those active in the beekeeping sector.

Specifically, participants who will complete at least 75% of this training program, as well as at least 75% of the Entrepreneurial Skills Training Program, which is scheduled for early 2027, will be encouraged to apply to the project’s competitive Tailored Services Voucher Scheme.

The Scheme will offer selected entrepreneurs in the beekeeping sector personalized business support services worth up to pound 5,000, with the aim of enhancing competitiveness, innovation and the development of their activities. It is clarified that the participation and successful completion of the training programs does not imply automatic selection in the Specialized Services Voucher Scheme. The selection of beneficiaries will be carried out through an open call for applications, in accordance with the eligibility criteria and the evaluation process that will be set out in the relevant announcement.

Registrations and information

Registrations for the training workshop have already started and interested beekeepers are invited to register through the online form:

Register here: https://forms.gle/US2jCrJDZLta9Ab49

A few words about the PLANBEE project

PLANBEE – Promoting Local Apiary Networks and Bee Entrepreneurial Excellence is a European project co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg NEXT MED Program coordinated by the CCCI, while it is implemented with the participation of partners from Cyprus (Filagrotiki Symvouleftiki), Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, Italy and Jordan.

The project aims to strengthen the beekeeping economy in the Mediterranean, promoting sustainable beekeeping, entrepreneurship, innovation and the development of beetourism. Through educational activities, specialized support services and transnational cooperation, it seeks to create new economic opportunities, especially for women and young people, while contributing to the revitalization of rural areas and the protection of the environment.

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (B)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1200 08/10/2026 UNTIL 1200 09/10/2026

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1020hPa (hectopascal)

Weak high pressure starts affecting the area. The weather will be mainly fine, but locally increased cloud coverage will be present at times.

Visibility: Good

Sea surface temperature: 26°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA PERIOD WIND STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Afternoon West to Northwest 3 to 4, locally 4 Smooth to Slight, locally Slight

Night Northwest to Northeast 3, locally offshore Northwest 4 Smooth to Slight, locally offshore Slight

Morning Northwest to Northeast 3, gradually Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight, gradually Slight

South Coast

Afternoon Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4, locally Southwest to West Smooth to Slight

Night Northwest to Northeast 3 Smooth to Slight

Morning Northwest to Northeast 3, gradually Southwest to West 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

East Coast

Afternoon North to Northeast 3 Smooth to Slight

Night West to Northwest 3, offshore Northwest to North 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight, offshore Slight

Morning North to Northeast 3, later locally 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight, later locally Slight

North Coast

Afternoon Northwest to Northeast 3, at times locally 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Night Northwest to North 3, locally near the coast Southeast to Southwest Smooth to Slight

Morning Northwest to Northeast 3 Smooth to Slight

Water storage in Cyprus reservoirs stand currently at approximately the same levels as in September although slightly below the level of August as a result of the heavy rainfall the previous month.

According to today’s data from the Water Development Department, the total water storage in the Cypriot dams is 35.6% of their total capacity (103,386 ECM) compared to 11.9% (34,703 ECM) in the corresponding period last year, recording a significant improvement compared to October 2025.

Despite the significant increase in reserves compared to last year, the stored volume of water remains significantly lower than the levels recorded three and four years ago.

The water storage currently stands at 103.386 million cubic meters, compared to 34.703 million cubic meters on the corresponding day last year, showing an increase of 68.683 million cubic meters.

The highest water level is in the Kalopanagiotis dam, (100%), followed by the Xyliatos dam with 75.2% and Vyzakias with 72%. In Kouris, the largest dam with a capacity of 115 million cubic meters, the water storage today stands at 36.9% or 42.467 million cubic meters, compared to 12.581 million cubic meters or 10.9% in the corresponding period last year.

It is noted that in October 2022 the amount of water in Kouris was 77 million cubic meters and dropped to approximately 53 million in October 2023, to 29-30 million in October 2024, and to 12-13 million cubic meters in October 2025.

Cyprus’ General Government recorded a fiscal surplus of pound 1.5891 billion, or 4.1% of GDP, in the January-August 2026 period, compared with pound 1.2693 billion, or 3.5% of GDP, in the corresponding period of 2025, according to preliminary fiscal results released by the Statistical Service on Thursday.

The surplus increased by pound 319.8 million year-on-year, as total revenue grew at a faster pace than expenditure.

Total revenue increased by pound 615.8 million, or 6.0%, to pound 10.842 billion, from pound 10.2262 billion in the corresponding period of 2025.

A significant increase was recorded in revenue from taxes on income and wealth, which rose by pound 382.4 million, or 14.2%, to pound 3.0801 billion, from pound 2.6977 billion.

Social contributions increased by pound 218.8 million, or 7.0%, to pound 3.3629 billion, while total taxes on production and imports rose by pound 252.9 million, or 8.2%, to pound 3.3416 billion.

Net VAT revenue increased particularly strongly, rising by pound 300.5 million, or 14.7%, to pound 2.3453 billion, from pound 2.0448 billion in the first eight months of 2025.

By contrast, capital transfers received fell by pound 101.7 million to pound 89.9 million, while revenue from the provision of services declined by pound 14.0 million to pound 665.0 million. Interest and dividends received fell by pound 37.7 million to pound 85.2 million, while current transfers decreased by pound 84.9 million to pound 217.3 million.

Expenditure up 3.3%

————————-

Total General Government expenditure increased by pound 296.0 million, or 3.3%, to pound 9.2529 billion, from pound 8.957 billion in the corresponding period of 2025.

Social benefits increased by pound 188.9 million, or 5.2%, to pound 3.8037 billion, while compensation of employees rose by pound 42.2 million, or 1.6%, to pound 2.6357 billion.

Intermediate consumption increased by pound 94.7 million, or 10.3%, to pound 1.0139 billion, while interest paid rose by pound 6.4 million, or 2.2%, to pound 298.5 million.

Capital expenditure, however, decreased by pound 45.5 million, or 5.3%, to pound 819.8 million. Gross fixed capital investment fell by pound 11.3 million, or 1.8%, to pound 603.1 million, while other capital transfers decreased by pound 34.1 million, or 13.6%, to pound 216.7 million.

By General Government subsector, the Central Government surplus increased to pound 735.1 million from pound 482.1 million in the first eight months of 2025. Local Government recorded a surplus of pound 3.0 million, compared with a deficit of pound 23.6 million, while Social Security Funds recorded a surplus of pound 851.0 million, compared with pound 810.8 million in 2025.

The Statistical Service noted that estimates had been produced for a number of General Government entities, particularly within the Local Government subsector, due to insufficient data submissions by the relevant authorities.

Weather Temperature for Cyprus

Today’s weather and temperatures for Cyprus according to the Department of Meteorology

Date 08/10/2026

Station

TEMPERATURE (C) (FROM 20:00 PC of the previous one until the time of the show)

Humidity at

1200 UTC

Highest

Lowest

Nicosia (Athalassa)

29

16

39

Larnaka Airport

30

19

62

Limassol

29

18

50

Pafos Airport

28

19

57

Frenaros

28

17

61

Prodromos

18

10

82

Polis Pafos

27

18

59

The Cabinet approved on Thursday the ‘Together with Mother and Baby’ scheme, that includes home visits by social workers to identify any difficulties and offer support, according to statements by Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Tina Pavlou.

The scheme is aimed at eligible families receiving the Guaranteed Minimum Income, as well as families with a gross household income of up to pound 22,000. It is expected to support around 1,000 new families, with an annual cost of pound 1.5 million.

Following a Council of Ministers meeting at the Presidential Palace, Pavlou described the scheme as one of the Deputy Ministry’s ‘flagship initiatives’ for 2026. ‘We are strengthening the support provided by the welfare state,’ she added.

The new, ‘Together with Mother and Baby’ scheme aims to support and empower new parents, with particular emphasis on the mother during the child’s first year of life, she said. At the same time, eligible families will receive a free package of baby equipment and essential care items worth pound 1,000 per child.

The Deputy Minister said the approach is already being implemented in other European countries. ‘We are moving from simply providing material assistance to a comprehensive approach focused on supporting and empowering the family,’ she said.

According to the Deputy Minister, the home visit by a social worker is at the heart of the scheme, with the aim of identifying difficulties, providing guidance and information, and where the mother requires additional support, facilitating access to other services.

New Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus the Kingdom of Cambodia Koula Sofianou has thanked the country for its long-standing support in the efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem and expressed Nicosia’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations.

According to an official press release, Sofianou presented recently her credentials to the Acting Head of State of the Kingdom of Cambodia and President of the Senate, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen.

The Ambassador conveyed the warm greetings of President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, and expressed Cyprus’ commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations, on the basis of the United Nations Charter and international law, as well as within the framework of European Union (EU)-Cambodia and EU-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) relations.

She also thanked the government of the Kingdom of Cambodia for its long-standing support in the efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem.

They also discussed the prospects for cooperation in areas of common interest, such as investments, climate change, innovation, education, sustainable tourism, the protection of cultural heritage and the strengthening of contacts between the peoples of the two countries.

The Ambassador wished every success in the organization of the Francophonie Summit, which will be held for the second time in Asia.

The Republic of Cyprus and the Kingdom of Cambodia established diplomatic relations in 2000.

Cyprus’ Composite Leading Economic Index (CCLEI) strengthened further in September, pointing to an improvement in the country’s short-term economic outlook, according to the Economics Research Centre (CypERC) of the University of Cyprus.

The CCLEI recorded a year-on-year increase of 0.28% in September 2026, up from a marginal 0.01% increase in August, marking the second consecutive month of positive year-on-year growth after a decline of 0.29% in July.

The further strengthening of the index was mainly driven by the positive performance of several domestic components. Property sales contracts, credit card transactions by Cypriots and the retail sales turnover volume index contributed positively to the CCLEI’s annual growth rate.

The year-on-year change in the weighted Economic Sentiment Indicator was also positive, although limited.

At the same time, the increase in the CCLEI was constrained by a significant rise in Brent crude oil prices compared with September 2025, as well as year-on-year declines in tourist arrivals and in the temperature-adjusted volume of electricity production.

According to CypERC, the positive performance of components related to the real estate market, retail trade and economic sentiment indicates resilience in Cypriot economic activity despite continuing pressures from the external environment.

However, the Centre noted that the sharp rise in oil prices, together with broader geopolitical and economic uncertainty, continued to pose significant downside risks to Cyprus’s economic growth.

The CCLEI is designed to provide early warning signals of turning points in the business cycle, with its components tending to precede changes in overall economic activity.

The index includes the Brent crude oil price, the Economic Sentiment Indicator in Cyprus and the euro area, property sales contracts, tourist arrivals, the value of Cypriot credit card transactions, the retail trade sales turnover volume index and the temperature-adjusted volume of electricity production.

The Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry participated in The London Food and Drink Festival 2026, with the aim of promoting Cypriot food and beverages in the United Kingdom market. The participation, through the Trade Center of the Republic of Cyprus in London, included an the operation of a pavilion which served as an information point, on September 16 and 17, 2026, at the ExCeL London exhibition center.

According to a press release issued by the Ministry, the pavilion featured a wide variety of traditional and contemporary Cypriot products, including Halloumi and other dairy products, cured meats, baked goods, loukoumia, honey, wines, Zivania and other alcoholic beverages, juices, trahanas, nuts, spoon sweets, carob syrup and rose products.

According to the Ministry, visitors to the Cypriot pavilion tasted Cypriot food and beverages and experienced the richness and diversity of the island’s cuisine through dishes prepared by the pavilion’s chef.

Leaflets featuring details on the products, recipes and a Cyprus Gastronomy Map were also distributed during the exhibition.

The London Food and Drink Festival was held for the first time bringing together five separate exhibitions to create one of the United Kingdom’s largest food and beverage industry events. The festival featured around 600 exhibitors and attracted more than 15,000 industry professionals from the UK and abroad.

In 2024, the share of jobs in Cyprus accounted for by foreign-controlled enterprises stood at 10%, one of the lowest rates in the EU, according to data published by Eurostat on Thursday.

More specifically, in terms of employees and self-employed persons, foreign-controlled enterprises accounted for 10% of jobs in Cyprus, the same share as in Italy. A lower rate was recorded in Greece, at 8%.

At the other end of the scale, Luxembourg recorded the highest share of jobs in foreign-controlled enterprises, at 45%, while in Ireland, Slovakia and Romania the corresponding share stood at 28% in each country.

Across the EU, only 1% of market producer enterprises were foreign-controlled in 2024, according to Eurostat. Of these, 59% were controlled by institutional units based in other EU countries and 41% by institutional units outside the EU.