President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides presented a new Action Plan for the Return of Successful Cypriots Abroad during the "Minds in Cyprus" event held in London on Wednesday evening. The initiative includes four targeted measures designed to support the return and reintegration of Cypriots living and working abroad, particularly in the United Kingdom.

The event drew over 750 in-person participants, primarily young Cypriots, including scientists, students, and professionals, while an additional 2,000 people followed the event online. It was co-organized by the Presidency of the Republic, Invest Cyprus, and the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).

President Christodoulides emphasized the importance of the diaspora’s contribution, stating: “Whether you choose to return or contribute from abroad, your involvement is of great value to Cyprus.”

The four actions included in the plan are:

1. Enhanced tax incentives, including expanded eligibility and increased exemption thresholds for those who have lived abroad for at least seven years after completing their studies. These new provisions complement the existing 50% tax exemption for individuals who have lived outside Cyprus for 15 years or more.

2. Creation of a digital information portal that will serve as a central hub for resources on employment, housing, education, healthcare, entrepreneurship, and repatriation support.

3. Development of a talent-matching platform, a new tool linking diaspora professionals with employment opportunities in Cyprus, especially in high-skill sectors.

4. Implementation of a holistic family reintegration scheme, including fast-track naturalizations, education access for children, Greek language courses, and social integration tools.

In his speech, President Christodoulides highlighted that over 35,000 highly skilled professionals from third countries, as well as thousands of Cypriots, currently live and work in Cyprus—particularly in sectors such as ICT, fintech, pharmaceuticals, and clean technologies.

He stressed that Cyprus now offers a competitive, stable, high-quality, and secure environment for professionals to live and work. “Our productive model is dynamic, diversified, and future-oriented,” he said, pointing to a robust ecosystem of research and innovation, comprising universities, centres of excellence, startups, and multinational companies.

According to the European Innovation Scoreboard, Cyprus is already ranked among the strongly innovative states, and holds the 40th position globally in the StartupBlink Global Startup Ecosystem Index, with a 28% annual growth rate.

President Christodoulides further emphasized Cyprus’s expanding diplomatic presence and international credibility, describing the country as a pillar of stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and a reliable EU partner with growing influence in regional and European affairs.

The event included two thematic roundtable discussions, followed by a Q&A session with the President. Senior representatives from 20 major companies participated, presenting career opportunities in Cyprus to diaspora professionals.