Christodoulides calls on Cypriots abroad to come home, ‘Cyprus needs your talent’

President Nikos Christodoulides has issued a heartfelt invitation to Cypriots living abroad: come home and help build the future of Cyprus.

Speaking in London to more than 750 Cypriot professionals at the "Minds in Cyprus" event, the president unveiled a national action plan designed to bring talented expats back to the island. The goal? To strengthen Cyprus' economy and society by tapping into its most valuable resource , its people.

“Cyprus is no longer just about sun and sea,” Christodoulides said. “It’s about opportunity, innovation, and a quality life. We want you to come home, grow with us, and be part of something bigger.”

A plan built around people

According to Kathimerini's Dorita Yiannakou, the government’s new strategy focuses on making it easier for expats to return , from work to school to healthcare. The plan includes:

Tax breaks for those who have been abroad for at least seven years.
A new digital portal where returnees can find information on jobs, housing, healthcare, education, entrepreneurship, and more.
A job-matching platform connecting Cypriot companies with professionals abroad.
Family-focused incentives, including faster naturalization for spouses, Greek language courses, and school support for children.

“We’re not just asking you to return,” Christodoulides said. “We’re creating the infrastructure and support to make it worth your while.”

Cyprus as a rising tech hub

Cyprus has already attracted more than 35,000 skilled professionals from overseas, many working in fast-growing sectors like tech, fintech, pharmaceuticals, and clean energy.

According to President Christodoulides, Cyprus is now ranked among Europe’s strongest innovators and holds the 40th spot in the global startup ecosystem , with a 28% growth rate.

Local tech leaders agree. Valentinos Polycarpou, CEO of Wargaming and chairman of TechIsland, said that Cyprus' tech sector contributes about €8.5 billion annually , roughly 16% of the country’s entire economy.

“Years ago, Cypriots went abroad for better opportunities,” Polycarpou said. “Now, Cyprus can offer all that and more: international companies, solid salaries, and a great quality of life.”

TechIsland, which includes companies like Exness, payabl. and ASBIS, backed the London event and is fully on board with the repatriation push.

Why now?

Cyprus faces a familiar challenge: how to keep its brightest minds from settling abroad permanently. The Action Plan is the government’s clearest attempt yet to reverse the "brain drain" and turn it into a "brain gain."

For Christodoulides, the message is simple: “The future of Cyprus is being built now , and we want our people, wherever they are, to be a part of it.”