WORLD TRADE CENTERS

Location: Cyprus

By legend the birthplace of the ancient Greek goddess of love Aphrodite, Cyprus's modern history has, in contrast, been dominated by enmity between its Greek and Turkish inhabitants. A former British colony, Cyprus became independent in 1960 following years of resistance to British rule. Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and the Republic of Cyprus is a member state of the European Union.

The island is partitioned into two main parts; the area under the effective control of the Republic of Cyprus, comprising about 59% of the island's area, and the Turkish-controlled area in the north, calling itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and recognised only by Turkey, covering about 36% of the island's area.

Full name: Republic of Cyprus
Population: 1,205,575 (July 2016 est.)
Capital:  Nicosia
Area (combined): 9,251 sq km (3,572 sq miles)
Major languages: Greek, English, Turkish
Major religions: Christianity

Cyprus is the third most populated island in the Mediterranean Sea and a very popular tourist destination. An advanced, high-income economy with a very high Human Development Index, the Republic of Cyprus was a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement until it joined the European Union on 1 May 2004.

On 1 January 2008, the Republic of Cyprus joined the Eurozone. The area of the Republic of Cyprus under government control has a market economy dominated by the service sector, which accounts for four-fifths of GDP. Tourism, financial services, and real estate are the most important sectors.

GDP: $19.93 billion (2015 est.)

GDP by Sector:  Agriculture: 2.3%, industry: 10.4%, services: 87.2% (2016 est.)

Exports: $2.635 billion (2016 est.)

Main Exports: Citrus, potatoes, pharmaceuticals, cement, clothing

Imports: $6.042 billion (2016 est.)

Main Imports: Consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, machinery, transport equipment.

World Trade Centers Holdings Cyprus holds the license for the whole of Cyprus. Cyprus has a vast history and is very strategic in location. Cyprus has been constantly a significant trading post between Europe, Africa and the Middle East and throughout history someone has always wanted to take it from someone else. It has been ruled by many, lastly by Britain from which it gained independence in August of 1960. In recent years significant quantities of offshore natural gas have been discovered in the area known as Aphrodite in Cyprus' exclusive economic zone. Cyprus’ capital, Nicosia, is one of the world's oldest cities and was the center of an independent kingdom as early as the 7th century BC.