Today, for the first time since assuming governance, the President of the Republic will clarify the future of the State Exhibition area.

Pre-election, as previously reported by Brief, the President, in his written response to a questionnaire sent by the Green Party to the then-Presidential candidates, had agreed to cancel the plans of the Nikos Anastasiades government for the State Exhibition area.

Specifically, the President had agreed in his response to the Greens, "with the cancellation of plans for the construction development of the state exhibition area and its transformation into a forest park."

Indeed, N. Christodoulides had added that he is "considering the possibility of creating a zone for innovation, commercial, and residential use in another area." Essentially, the President's pre-election commitment negates the Anastasiades government's plan, which would have initiated processes to find an investor to create an innovation and business zone in the State Exhibition area.

During the meeting – which is the first on the issue – the President's plans for the State Exhibition and any changes to his pre-election commitment will become apparent.

It is worth recalling that the area's residents had expressed their opposition to the Anastasiades government's plans, calling for the area to be transformed into a forest park.

Indeed, residents had met with President Christodoulides pre-election, informing him of their opposition to the government's plans.

Remember that, according to the previous government's plan, the State Exhibition area was to be redeveloped to include innovation spaces, an exhibition center, and green areas. The goal, as noted, was to create an environment that enhances the culture of innovation, knowledge transfer, and innovative entrepreneurship. It is recalled that in September 2022, the Council of Ministers approved the creation of an Innovation and Business Zone in the State Exhibition area.

The strategic investor, as the Ministry of Finance told Brief, would undertake the study, construction, financing, operation, and maintenance of the innovation and business zone facilities, as well as providing support services and promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, in line with the government's vision and goals for the project. According to the indicative timetable prepared, the entire process was expected to be completed by the end of 2024, while the preliminary estimate put the value at around €100 million, but the final amount would depend on the private investor's plan.