Filenews 10 January 2023
The projects completed, the projects that are under execution and the projects that will start in the next six months in the city of Paphos, are 89 in total and a total budget of €198 million, said Paphos Mayor Phedonas Phedonos, making a written account of the Municipality's work.
Of the 89 projects, 65 have already been executed by the Municipality of Paphos, 9 by the State and 15 are now being executed or will start in the next 6 months, all by the Municipality of Paphos.
He also pointed out that out of the 89 projects, 41 were or are co-financed by the State or the European Union and the Municipality of Paphos, while the remaining 48 were or are fully funded by the Municipality.
Of the €198 million that will be the total cost of these 89 projects, €55 million is from the budget of the Municipality of Paphos while the remaining €143 million come from funding from the European Union and the State. He added that in 2015 the Municipality's borrowing was €38 million, today it is just over €10 million and they have, as he said, a reserve of €8 million in their fund to be able to finance the projects.
According to Mr. Phaedonos, in 2022 the works for the upgrading of the Archaeological Museum of Pafos were inaugurated and completed. The beautification of the Municipal Market and the improvement of Fellahoglou Street and the two adjacent parking spaces was inaugurated in 2022 after the completion of the project.
Furthermore, he continued, the project of redevelopment and promotion of Psarochori in Kato Paphos was delivered and inaugurated. The project had a budget of €1.8 million. it was co-financed by the EU (European Maritime and Fisheries Fund 2014-2020) and the Republic of Cyprus. According to Paphos Mayor Phaedon Phaedon, the project was carried out by the Municipality of Paphos during the period 2019-2020.
Also in 2022, the project of the unified Archaeological Sites of Kato Pafos was inaugurated.
The Mayor of Paphos described the project as a "new diamond" for the city and noted that its completion contributes to the further development and visitation of the area, which is one of the most historic in the Mediterranean, included in the UNESCO list of cultural heritage. He added that the total project extends over an area of approximately 20,000 sq.m and includes, in addition to the aerial footbridge that is already installed, three squares, pedestrian streets, special routes, etc.
Also in 2022, tree plantings were completed by the upgrade of Neophytos Nikolaidis and Grivas Digenis Avenues, while the project of Ellados Avenue is in progress.
Mr. Phaedonos made extensive reference to the projects concerning education. As he said, the foundation stone of the CUT facilities in Paphos has already been deposited and the foundation stone of the American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo is expected to be laid, noting that both Universities are expected to open their gates to welcome the first students in about 10 months, creating a real event in the field of education and education of the highest level.
An extremely important development for the city of Paphos, said the Mayor of Paphos, is the intention of the American University of Beirut to establish in Paphos a Medical School with the utilization of the Paphos General Hospital as a University Hospital, as such a venture will make Paphos a centre for the provision of high-level university education and health services, he added.
He referred to Pafos' strategic goal to acquire university infrastructure through cooperation with internationally recognized and prestigious academic institutions in Cyprus and abroad. With hard work, proper planning, a responsible attitude and far-sighted political support from President Anastasiades and without downplaying the contribution of other bodies or persons, the achievement of this goal has been set in motion and is being promoted at a fast pace.
He expressed the belief that the arrival in Paphos of the Cyprus University of Technology and the American University of Beirut seals the transition of the city to a new era and is an event of great benefit to the country.
