The Eunite Programme has officially launched the eunite Business Hive, a dedicated hub aimed at strengthening private sector development, fostering innovation, and enhancing trade across the Green Line in Cyprus.
Located in Nicosia’s old town, with a strong focus on sustainability, digitalization and business excellence, the eunite Business Hive will offer services ranging from innovation management and business diagnostics to tailored technical support or mentor-driven advisory to help Turkish Cypriot business grow and enhance trade.
An official inauguration event took place on March 7th and brought together representatives from the European Commission, Turkish Cypriot business organizations, and key stakeholders, emphasizing the hub’s role in fostering private sector development, innovation, and economic integration into the EU single market.
45 New Grants to Turkish Cypriot Business to Enhance Green Line Trade
In addition to the launch of the Business Hive, the eunite Programme has awarded awarded 45 new grants totaling €2 million to Turkish Cypriot businesses. A significant step towards strengthening economic integration and development.
This grant scheme aims to empower Turkish Cypriot businesses and support their integration into the broader EU market. The financial support will enhance trade across the Green Line and help businesses align with EU standards, fostering long-term economic sustainability.
The 45 awarded businesses will use these grants to invest in upgrading machinery and lab equipment, obtaining essential certifications, implementing digital solutions, and adopting green practices. The funding spans key sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, food and beverages, and industrial products, reflecting the programme’s commitment to strengthening diverse economic areas.
These efforts are designed to ensure compliance with EU standards in key sectors, thereby promoting sustainable economic growth within the Turkish Cypriot community.
The grant scheme is not an isolated effort, but an integrated component into the EU Aid Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community, underscoring the European Union’s steadfast commitment to fostering economic development and cooperation in Cyprus. By supporting Turkish Cypriot businesses in meeting EU standards, the initiative aims to facilitate smoother trade across the Green Line, benefiting the entire island.
Through the eunite Business Hive and new grant awards, the eunite Programme continues to empower Turkish Cypriot enterprises, ensuring their growth, competitiveness, and alignment with EU standards.
For more information about the eunite Business Hive and grant opportunities, visit www.eunite-cyprus.eu.
About Eunite Programme
As part of the EU Aid Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community, eunite focuses on contributing to confidence building in Cyprus through improved public and animal health in the Turkish Cypriot community (TCc), supporting the production of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) compliant Halloumi/Hellim and boosting trade across the Green Line. eunite is also working to integrate Turkish Cypriot businesses into the island-wide economy and the European single market and to strenghten Turkish Cypriot agriculture and rural development by implementing an Agriculture Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS), including support to high-potential value chains.
With a sustained technical and financial support, it is intended to help Turkish Cypriots to build on the results achieved and the recommendations for the way forward as provided by ongoing technical assistance projects to enable trade across the Green Line in food products, including PDO compliant Halloumi/Hellim and advancing economic convergence and bi-communal collaboration in Cyprus.
Specifically, eunite works in three streams:
Eunite: Halloumi/Hellim PDO
The project focuses on improving the EU Halloumi/Hellim PDO scheme and related EU food safety standards in the dairy sector. Local producers will enhance their production capabilities and improve the implementation of EU food safety standards, improve the monitoring of feed quality, and improve animal husbandry conditions at sheep and goat farms. In parallel, the project will strengthen the access to veterinary medicinal products registered by the European Medicines Agency for use in beekeeping.
Eunite: SME
The project focuses on integrating Turkish Cypriot businesses into the island-wide economy and the European single market. SMEs, startups and early-stage entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to access grants in addition to training, mentoring, and business development programmes. The support aims to improve production practices and quality to meet EU standards, boost competition, increase digitalization and ensure sustainability.
Eunite: AgriBusiness
The project represents a transformative initiative to strengthen Turkish Cypriot agriculture by establishing the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS). This network will connect farmers, experts and researchers to share knowledge, develop innovative solutions, and improve agriculture practices.
The project works on building an AKIS network that fosters collaboration and knowledge exchange, helping key agricultural sectors enhance their productivity and sustainability. By providing expert advisory services, hands-on training, and research support, the project aims to strengthen high-value agricultural chains and improve rural livelihoods.
Through innovation-driven solutions and strong partnerships, this initiative will empower the agricultural community, increase efficiency, and contribute to a more resilient rural economy.
