President announces €30 million investment for over 20 development projects in Troodos

At a visit to Amiantos on Tuesday, President Nikos Christodoulides displayed a number of development projects worth over €30 million for the Troodos mountain region. These initiatives are a part of a larger rejuvenation strategy that includes more than 20 projects and a series of political measures meant to raise the standard of living in rural Troodos communities.

Christodoulides met with community organizations and local authorities during his visit to assess the results of the last 19 months' worth of initiatives. He also listed other initiatives that would be carried out as part of the agenda of his administration. A group of government officials including nine members of the cabinet joined the president.

In his speech, Christodoulides underlined that promoting social cohesion is one of the government's top priority for the mountainous areas. Targeted expenditures in health, education, and other essential services can help achieve this.

Health sector improvements

Christodoulides announced that the Troodos hospital's pulmonology clinic is finished and that patients will be admitted starting on November 1. Additionally, he said that a master plan for the hospital is now being developed and is anticipated to be completed by the end of the year, with an approximate cost of €2 million.

Advances in education

Regarding education, the president emphasised the growth of optional full-day school programs, stating that all schools that are interested will be allowed to take part by the next year. The government is also funding the construction and renovation of educational and sports facilities, as well as providing transit subsidies for kids from remote areas.

Fire safety and environmental measures

Christodoulides announced a €2 million investment in preventive measures, such as the management of pruned agricultural waste and the implementation of regulated grazing for biomass management, in response to the increasing threat of fires and harsh weather occurrences.

In Solea-Marathasa, a new helipad for firefighting operations will be built for €4.5 million, while a fire station in Eptagonia will be built for €1.1 million. Tenders for the projects are anticipated in 2025, and other fire stations are planned for Pedoulas and Pahna.

Economic growth and tourism

The president also introduced initiatives to stimulate economic growth and entrepreneurship in the region, with the goal of creating new job opportunities. A key component of this plan is the enhancement of Troodos' tourism sector, with over €5 million dedicated to upgrading tourism infrastructure in the area.

Agriculture and renewable energy

The administration will keep concentrating on strengthening the primary sector while creating a new agricultural land bank to utilise abandoned plots. With an emphasis on lowering energy and water expenses for agricultural operations, the cabinet has adopted a new rural strategy. To increase sector efficiency, the government has allocated over €7 million for smart irrigation systems and €10 million for renewable energy initiatives.

Transport and connectivity

Another top goal is enhancing mobility to and from Troodos. According to Christodoulides, work is being done to improve road connections between cities and the mountains. To improve access to digital services, a project to build fibre optic networks in remote villages is also anticipated to be finished by 2025.

The president reaffirmed his dedication to seeing these investments through to completion, stressing that these projects are a component of a larger plan to revitalise Cyprus' mountainous regions on an economic and social level.