President Nikos Christodoulides on Wednesday evening hosted a reception at the presidential palace for delegates of the World Conference of Cypriot Diaspora, where he praised the diaspora as “tireless ambassadors of Cyprus abroad” and reaffirmed that ending the Turkish occupation and achieving reunification remains the government’s top priority. He also confirmed that eight distinguished Cypriots were honoured for their long-standing contribution to the homeland and wider society.
New updates were presented during the conference, where government officials reported progress in the initiative to encourage Cypriots living abroad to return home. The conference runs from August 26 until 29.
Deputy Minister to the President, Irene Piki, detailed progress since the Minds in Cyprus initiative was launched in London earlier this year. She described it as “a bridge that unites not only places, but mainly people, ideas and possibilities”, emphasising that the programme focuses on creating professional and family opportunities in Cyprus.
Piki highlighted the main measures of the action plan for the repatriation of talent. A new ministry of labour and social insurance digital tool now connects professionals directly with available jobs.
The deputy minister noted expanded tax incentives for returnees, including exemptions for first jobs capped at €8,550 and additional benefits for experienced professionals. Existing exemptions for those abroad 15 years or more continue. Administrative procedures for professionals and their families have been simplified.
The cabinet on Wednesday also approved a series of education-related measures aimed at supporting people repatriating to the country from abroad, including Greek language learning opportunities, as part of the “Minds in Cyprus” initiative. Minister of Education Athena Michaelidou, announced the decision following the cabinet meeting.
Michaelidou said in a written statement that “These measures build on the government’s action plan for talent repatriation and the recently launched online platform Minds in Cyprus.”
Under the new plan, Greek language courses will be expanded through the ministry’s adult education centres, offering access not only to returnees but also to their spouses. Additionally, free Greek lessons will be provided for spouses and children through the state institutes of further education, fully funded by the education ministry’s budget.
The cabinet also decided to raise the annual grant for families returning to Cyprus who enrol their children in private schools, from €768 to €1,000 for secondary education, and to ease eligibility requirements. Instead of the previous requirement of 10 consecutive years of permanent residence abroad, applicants will now qualify after seven years.
“We believe these measures will further encourage those who wish to return to their homeland, supporting our goal of attracting talent back to Cyprus. This will enhance quality, create better opportunities, and strengthen the country’s international standing,” Michaelidou added.
Piki also reported that Cyprus’ economy continues to grow above the EU average, with low unemployment and strong momentum in technology, innovation, and research sectors. She encouraged the diaspora to engage with the initiative, noting that its success depends on their participation.
The Minds in Cyprus platform, launched on Tuesday, offers job listings, personalised opportunities, and detailed information for returnees. President Christodoulides reiterated that the diaspora’s role is essential, whether through physical return or continued support abroad, and stressed that the Republic of Cyprus is actively preparing for its EU council presidency in January 2026 while also seeking conditions to restart substantive talks on the Cyprus problem.
The website is available at www.mindsincyprus.com for those interested in repatriation.