Filenews 23 May 2021 - by Eleftheria Paizanou
Cyprus is expected to become unrecognizable if the 76 investment projects included in the multi-page National Recovery Plan, which is before the European authorities, are implemented over the next six years. These are projects that will modernise the state, make it greener, strengthen the country's tourism product and generally make life easier for citizens.
Investments that have already been largely implemented by other Member States. Among the projects to be promoted are the digitisation of the state machinery and businesses, the replacement of the fleet of government vehicles with electrics, the strengthening of infrastructure for tourism, the improvement of areas, the installation of smart water management networks and flood defence projects.
Projects promoted in Cyprus will also fill gaps identified by the European institutions in their reports. Most projects are planned on the axis of strengthening the competitiveness of the economy and on the green economy. In order for the country to disburse the amount of €1.2 billion, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) will make available to Cyprus from the European Fund, it will have to implement 76 investments. Therefore, after the adoption of the Plan in July by the Commission, the Cypriot authorities will have to take immediate action to be consistent with the timetables set. "F" presents the projects included in the National Plan.
33 competitiveness projects
Most projects are expected to be implemented on the axis of enhancing the resilience and competitiveness of the economy. A total of 33 projects are planned, with a budget of €370.2 million. According to the Recovery Plan, which has been in the hands of the Commission since last Monday, these are the following investments:
- Establishment of a marine aquaculture unit in Pentakom - construction of a collective infrastructure to serve the marine aquaculture units (port and land facilities) operating in the wider area of Vasilikos - Monastery (€29 million)
- Creation of an isotopic identity of Cypriot food and drink, as well as the creation of a data display platform for their identification with the aim of providing reassurance to consumers and other stakeholders about the authenticity and quality of local and traditional food/drinks (€1 million)
- Upgrading the skills of the existing rural community and professionalising the future workforce through investments in human capital. A task force will also be set up to promote the creation of the first Ecological Industrial Science Park, with the aim of promoting the construction of green technology equipment (e.g. RES/solar energy) through the operation of clusters by local and foreign construction entities, in collaboration with academic & research centres and the exploitation of specific incentives.
- Consulting Studies for the promotion, promotion and promotion of Cypriot products.
A grant scheme for the modernisation and digitisation of enterprises active in the processing and trade of agricultural products (€25 million) and a plan to enhance the competitiveness of large enterprises active in the manufacturing sector (€7 million) will also be promoted.
Enrichment of tourist product
In addition, the sustainability and added value of the tourism sector (€26 million) will be enhanced. The upgrading of tourist accommodation/hotels in rural, mountainous and remote areas will be promoted and houses will be renovated based on their traditional character, for use as agrotourism accommodation. At the same time, the enrichment of the tourist product in rural, mountain and remote areas (€6.8 million), the expansion of the National Network of Green Points and the creation of a network of collection and recycling points (€10 million), the management of waste to the circular economy (€14.3 million) and the creation of a plant in Orounta, for the management of livestock waste and animal by-products, with bio-gas production, are planned.
Research and Innovation
In line with the commitments of the Cypriot authorities to the Commission, a central knowledge transfer office (€3 million) will be set up, innovation financing programmes and projects to support the development and enhance the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises, including start-ups and innovative enterprises (€52 million) and a programme to finance research and innovation for the green transition (€6 million).
Another €3m will be spent on the project. providing incentives for the development of classified laboratories and classified communication networks to research and academic organisations, including centres of excellence, academic institutions, research centres and companies involved in research and innovation in multi-use technologies.
The installation of an integrated information system of the Registrar of Companies and Official Receiver is also expected, including user/customer identity data management systems (€6.6 million). The creation of a protected regulatory sandbox for the development of innovative technology solutions in the financial sector, projects for advisory services for small and medium-sized enterprises (€4 million) and digital upgrading of enterprises (€10 million) are also promoted. A publicly funded Equity Fund is also expected to be set up to support small and medium-sized enterprises with a focus on start-ups and innovative enterprises (€20 million), as well as subsidising new business loans (€26.9 million).
The big green projects
In the green economy sector, 22 investments, totalling €436.2 million, are planned, to be implemented by 2026. The green projects incorporated in the Cyprus project are:
- End of energy isolation (Project of Common Interest) – Electrical Interconnection of Systems of Israel, Cyprus and Greece (Crete) "EuroAsia Interconnector" / Cyprus-Greece Interconnection (€100 million)
- Grant scheme to promote energy efficiency investments in small and medium-sized enterprises, municipalities, communities and the wider public sector (€40 million)
- Sponsorship projects to promote RES and energy efficiency measures in housing, as well as tackling energy poverty in households with disabilities (€20.5 million)
- Sponsorship projects to encourage the use of RES and (mainly individual) energy efficiency measures in public and local authorities and to support local communities in tackling and adapting to climate change (€12.5 million)
- Grant scheme to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to industries, enterprises and organisations – for interventions not covered by other projects(€20 million)
- Upgrading RES and smart grid testing infrastructure at the University of Cyprus (€1.6 million)
- Mass installation and operation by the Distribution System Operator (DSO) of the Advanced Smart Measurement Infrastructure (€35 million)
- Monitoring and reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the agricultural sector (€4.1 million)
- Protection of forests from fires (€18.7 million)
- Market management system to facilitate the opening up of the electricity market to competition (€4.7 million)
- Energy upgrade to public buildings (€11.5 million)
Infrastructure for electrification
A number of projects concern sustainable transport, focusing on sustainable urban mobility (€31.5 million). This allocation will implement the measures in the Larnaca and Limassol Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans, including cycle paths, bus lanes (€26.5 million) and accessibility and movement of cyclists, pedestrians and people with mobility difficulties, in urban centres (€5 million)
In addition, infrastructure for electrification (€6.8 million) is planned. Among other things, ten fast-charging stations will be installed in public places such as public administration buildings, hospitals, municipal parking lots.
A sponsorship plan will also be implemented for the installation of 1000 charging points in private areas (residential-businesses) as well as a sponsorship plan for charging electric vehicles using renewable energy sources.
The plans are to promote the widespread use of electric vehicles with a total budget of €48.8 million. Of these, €30 million was paid to the European Investment Bank (EIB). will be spent on the implementation of a sponsorship plan for the purchase of electric vehicles, as €15 million will be spent on the purchase of electric vehicles. to implement a plan for the withdrawal/replacement of polluting vehicles in conjunction with incentives for zero or low-emission mobility.
It is expected to promote the gradual replacement of the government vehicle fleet with the purchase of 100 electric vehicles, replace existing motorcycles in post offices with electric motorcycles and install the necessary charging infrastructure in government buildings.
Green projects include the replacement of a Phase A transmission pipeline (€11.8 million), the upgrading of water treatment facilities (€6 million) and the installation of an Integrated Monitoring and Control System of the Water Development Department's network (€6 million)
Investments for the digital age
Another five projects with a budget of €69.8 million will be completed by the next five years. the axis of the transition to the digital age. The transmission network will be extended to remote areas (€35 million), the internal wiring of buildings (€10 million) will be upgraded and an undersea Cyprus-Greece connection cable (€7.5 million) will be installed. The digital transformation of the government (€14 million) and the Port Authority (€3.3 million) is planned.
Smart water management networks
The installation of smart water management networks (€22.2 million) is also planned. Of the total amount of the budget, €5.2 million paid to the European Investment Bank (EIB). will be made available for the application of smart technologies to the Larnaca Supply Council, for its transformation into a smart, digital and green organisation, at regional level.
A smart living lab will also be created to develop innovative Smart Water Resources Management solutions in Limassol (€13 million) Smart technologies will also be adopted to improve the efficiency of the Larnaca Water Supply Council (€4 million)
In addition, an amount of €16 million will be spent on the project. for the implementation of flood defence projects in the Municipalities of Nicosia, Ipson and Levivadia. The strengthening of water supply security for the Nicosia and Larnaca regions (€6 million), the creation of an eastern Nicosia water recycling infrastructure (€10.9 million) are also being promoted. Finally, actions are expected to protect the marine environment from oil pollution (€7.6 million).
Public service, Smart Cities, Old Nicosia
According to government plans, a rationalisation of the shift system is planned as part of the public service reform, through the implementation of a rotating system, which will be interconnected with the computerised operational resource management system (ERP system) of the General Accounting Office (€0.5 million). In addition, the reform of local government will improve the electronic system for issuing building permits (€1.1 million) and implement a national strategy for Smart Cities, through an integrated plan and initiatives to improve the lives of residents, optimise the use of urban resources and services and reduce the impact on the environment (€35 million).
Planning is also being promoted for its regeneration and revitalization within the Walls of Nicosia – transfer of the School of Architecture of the University of Cyprus to the school of Faneromeni, upgrading of neighbourhoods and historic streets and providing incentives to attract business activities to the region (€28.8 million). In the meantime, court infrastructure will be upgraded and management systems implemented to combat corruption and corruption (€2m)
Strengthening hospitals and health services with 70 million projects
In the health axis, seven projects, totalling €70.4 million, have been included in the National Recovery Plan. These are investments that will increase the resilience and quality of the GHS's services. In particular, public hospitals will be strengthened to make them more competitive and able to cope with any future health crises.
Investments to strengthen civil protection and the use of smart technologies to effectively handle emergencies are also included. The projects included in the Cyprus Recovery Plan are as follows:
- Creation of new facilities for the Blood Centre and supply of modern technology (€4.3 million)
- Innovative System of Information and Communication Technologies of Public Health Cyprus (€5.7 million)
- Sponsorship plan for the purchase/replacement of medical equipment in public and private hospitals (€5 million)
- Accreditation project for public and private hospitals (€2.5 million)
Projects to improve, modernise and upgrade Cyprus' public hospitals (€46.5 million) have been included in the Plan, as follows:
- Establishment and/or extension of dialysis units in all public hospitals (€6.1 million)
- Creation of a new Mental Health Hospital (€6.8 million)
- Strengthening the Makarios Hospital to offer full treatment to children for all cases (€23.4 million)
- Extension of the Department of Interventional Radiology, including medical equipment, (€1.5 million)
- Strengthening accident & emergency departments in all public hospitals (€1.7 million)
- Strengthening of the General Hospitals of Paphos and Limassol (€4.7 million)
- Construction of a Covid-19 plant at Famagusta Hospital (€1.5 million)
- Establishment of a communicable diseases unit at Limassol General Hospital (€700 thousand).
The projects promoted include the development of general cross-border e-health services in Cyprus (€1.9 million), as well as the creation of a public warning system to support emergency operations via SMS with additional options e.g. TV, social media, etc. (€4.5 million).
