Representatives of Larnaca will once again head to the Presidential Palace today (15 May) to present their long‑standing demands to President Nikos Christodoulides regarding the highly debated and persistent issue of developing the city’s port and marina. It is a matter that has effectively stalled in recent years.
Those expected to attend the meeting include the mayor of Larnaca, the head of the local district organisation and the president of the Larnaca Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Mayor Andreas Vyras said yesterday that the meeting with the President had been arranged to determine the next steps regarding the development of the port and marina.
“We are asking the government to present a specific development plan for the two sites, clear timelines for implementation and clarification on who will finance the projects,” he said.
Regarding Larnaca’s non‑negotiable demand for development of the land areas, Mr Vyras noted that the municipality has been informed that a total land area of 55,000 square metres has been designated for development. However, local stakeholders are seeking further clarification from the President and the competent ministry on this issue.
“They must explain what types of developments they are referring to on the land plots and whether these areas are located next to the shipyard,” Mr Vyras added. He will also seek a clear position from the President on whether reports about the introduction of industrial uses at Larnaca port are accurate.
Source of disagreement
It is recalled that the study by Greece’s Growth Fund on the future development of the port and marina, prepared with the contribution of Dutch experts, did not fully satisfy the municipal authority and Larnaca stakeholders.
This is because the study makes no reference to development of the land areas, focusing only on port infrastructure. The development of the land zone has become the main point of contention in recent months between local authorities and Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades.
Andreas Vyras and the Larnaca Development Committee have repeatedly stressed that land development is a red line for the city. Larnaca is seeking a say in how these developments are shaped, aiming to ensure that projects create new jobs, boost tourism and support the local economy.
At the same time, the city is calling for the immediate advancement of the yacht club project at the marina, which is expected to include a conference centre. This project had been officially announced by the state following the termination of the contract with Kition.
Local frustration has also focused on the fact that two years after the termination of the agreement with the former contractor Kition Ocean Holdings in May 2024, no tangible progress has been made on developing these two key sites, which are located in highly strategic areas of the city.
