On 16 June, the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), in collaboration with the Cyprus Peace and Dialogue Centre, successfully hosted an insightful event on bicommunal economic cooperation and joint investments at the Ledra Palace Hotel.

The event featured the presentation of the research study, “Promoting Bicommunal Investments: Facilitating Cooperation between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots”, conducted by Prof. Dr. Mustafa Besim and Dr. Andreas Charalambous, with support from the International Communities Organisation (ICO). In addition, Alexander Apostolides and Kemal Baykalli, from the One Stop Shop, spoke about the obstacles in the Green Line trade, including a perspective about challenges of the skincare industry by Pelin Akcinar.

Around 80 attendees, including business leaders and civil society representatives engaged in a lively discussion on how economic collaboration can build trust, foster reconciliation, and contribute to long-term peacebuilding efforts in Cyprus.

The dialogue emphasized the potential of joint investments and cross-community economic initiatives to create shared prosperity and strengthen ties between the two communities. Participants exchanged ideas on practical steps to advance cooperation, highlighting the importance of institutional support, policy frameworks, and grassroots engagement.

The event underscored the power of economic partnerships in peacebuilding and set the stage for further discussions on enhancing bicommunal collaboration. UNFICYP remains committed to supporting initiatives that promote dialogue, trust, and sustainable peace in Cyprus.