High-level executives from Amazon have been in Cyprus since Tuesday, announced Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy Nikodimos Damianou on Wednesday, following the conclusion of the Cabinet meeting.

According to Damianou, the Cabinet was briefed on the results of recent meetings held in the United States, specifically in Silicon Valley, with leading technology companies.

“As a follow-up to the meetings held by the President of the Republic and the government delegation in the U.S., we welcomed yesterday, along with the Chief Scientist, senior Amazon executives to begin reviewing the issues discussed during our visit,” he stated.

>>Silicon Valley: Whom Damianou, Skourides, and Evgeniou Met With<<

The Deputy Minister clarified that these discussions involve Amazon’s potential presence in Cyprus, possibly through the establishment of a specialized research and development center or partnerships with local ecosystem stakeholders. Talks also focus on cooperation to boost digital skills, with a focus on technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, and support in tackling critical challenges like wildfire prevention, traffic management, and more. “These companies operate in a continuous cycle of innovation and growth and can provide valuable expertise for such issues,” he added.

Damianou further noted that the possibility of developing infrastructure in Cyprus—such as data centers—is also under consideration. This aligns with the Deputy Ministry’s “Cloud First” policy and the ongoing process of selecting a strategic partner for the government cloud (“g-cloud”) project.

Additionally, representatives from Plug and Play and Tenstorrent are expected in Cyprus during the week of May 5 to begin discussions on their potential operations in the country. The aim, according to the Deputy Minister, is for these companies to get acquainted with Cyprus’s innovation ecosystem, its research activity, technology sectors, and network of startups.

>>Which Are the Two Leading Tech Firms Exploring Expansion into Cyprus?<<

Meanwhile, initial contacts are already underway this week with other companies that the Cypriot delegation met in the U.S., including Microsoft and several others whose names have not been publicly disclosed. Within the next two weeks, first-round talks are also scheduled with OpenAI, Oracle, and Google, aiming for more in-depth discussions on potential partnerships and opportunities, building on the dialogue held in the presence of the President of the Republic.

“These are just some indicative developments currently unfolding as a result of the trip,” Damianou said, adding that the next two weeks will include meetings and the start of discussions with all companies the delegation met abroad. “The momentum and interest we observed during the visit are now being confirmed in practice, and the government is ready to fully capitalize on this dynamic,” he concluded.