The Minister of Transport will present a timeline to the President of the Republic for the next steps.

There is interest from Qatar and other countries and investment funds for the development of Larnaca's port and marina, said the Minister of Transport, Alexis Vafeadis, to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA). He noted that he will present a timeline to the President of the Republic for the next steps following a meeting with the local community of the city on Friday.

He expressed hope that the issue of transferring the marina to the Ministry of Transport would be completed within the day.

Speaking at the international conference on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity in Civil and Military Aviation held in Larnaca, and responding to CNA about Qatar's interest in the port and marina development and reports on other interested investors, the Minister said that Qatar's interest is part of a general interest shown by foreign investment funds and other countries observing Cyprus's strong economic condition and wishing to invest.

The Emir of Qatar's visit, he continued, was exploratory in nature besides its ceremonial aspect. "I believe that the entire discussion about Larnaca’s marina and port fits within this context."

"We intend to proceed with the re-announcement of the project based on public procurement law procedures and hope that both Qatar and other investors will be interested in participating in this tender," he added.

"For us, this interest is significant; it shows that Cyprus is attractive as an investment destination, so we proceed with more hope for success," he said.

Asked when the new tender is expected to be announced, the Minister said that a meeting would be held in Larnaca with the local community on Friday. "We expect to hear their suggestions, take everything said into account in planning the next steps, and accordingly set a timeline," he said.

He noted that the President of the Republic "gave clear instructions for us to handle the matter promptly, requested a timeline," and that he committed to providing the President with the timeline after Friday's meeting. "His interest is very high; he wants to bring the project to fruition as soon as possible," he said.

When CNA commented that Larnaca, the first city in Cyprus to have a port, would be the last to have a state-of-the-art port and marina, Mr. Vafeadis said that Larnaca has activity in both the port and marina, "activities that we believe have long been due for an upgrade, and we are working towards this direction."

"We believe these projects will benefit not only Larnaca but Cyprus in general, and that is why this project is of utmost importance to the Government," he added.

Asked about the Government's agreement on Wednesday with the representatives of the workers at the Larnaca port and marina, Mr. Vafeadis said, "it is a very good agreement," highlighting the Government's interest in workers, "who are always a top priority for us."

"I believe the solution found shows how high our interest is and that the next day for the workers will be good," he noted.

He also mentioned that no issues are expected regarding ship services at Larnaca port. "We are very satisfied that the port has not ceased operations even for a minute, so the needs of the economy have been met," he said, adding that the implementation of the 'Amalthea' project was not interrupted either, as the ship docked at the port was loaded. "We consider it a success that Cyprus did not lose this port, this crucial infrastructure," he added.

Asked if the marina's operation has been fully resumed, Mr. Vafeadis replied that the Ministry of Transport would take over the marina. "Today, the Ministry's General Director is here," he said, adding that "we are in the phase where the marina's operation is being transferred to the Ministry of Transport." He clarified that the transfer has not been completed yet, but the marina is operating normally, expressing hope that this issue will be resolved within the day.

Regarding the Cyprus Docked Boats Association's announcement calling on the Minister to address the issues faced by the Association, Mr. Vafeadis responded that "developments have now surpassed the issue."

He noted that the marina is now in the hands of the state, which will immediately start the process of finding an investor. "Until then, we need to manage any issues to ensure the marina operates normally until an investor arrives," Mr. Vafeadis added, noting that this is the immediate challenge for everyone.

Asked about the cost of fees, the Minister said that "fees are not an issue that the Ministry alone can decide." He explained that there is a process based on legislation, and until this process is completed, the existing fees will remain in effect. "We will dutifully review the matter and follow the legal process to determine the fees approved by the Cypriot state," he concluded.