During the last 20 years Cyprus has established itself as the leading financial centre for inward investments in Central, Eastern Europe and Russia. It is undoubtedly the jurisdiction of choice for investors wishing to do business in Central and Eastern Europe.
This in mainly due to an array of tax advantages including a network of favorable double tax treaties which Cyprus has with countries from those part of the world.
The favorable tax regime makes Cyprus an ideal location for manufacturers, especially those with Middle East / North African export activities. In addition to the plentiful supply of high quality and well trained labor, Cyprus benefits from a strategic location in the north-east of the Mediterranean, and is effectively the idea crossroads linking Europe, Africa and Asia.
Cyprus complies with EU requirements as well as OECD rules against harmful tax and offers a stable, advanced infrastructure and plenty of tax advantages including the lowest corporate tax in EU, tax exemption on incoming and out coming dividends, no capital gains, no withholding taxes on interest and royalties, no thin capitalization or CFC rules etc.
Cyprus is also common jurisdiction and is a preferred location for setting up international trusts due to their total tax exemption of income and the confidentiality and secrecy afforded.
Investors can reap the benefits of cross-border opportunities within the EU by choosing Cyprus to hold their investment holding and use it as a springboard to raise funds or list their shares in other EU capital markets of their choice.
In recent years, the islands' attractiveness as a holding company location has been upgraded in comparison to other financial centers elsewhere in the world. Cyprus is today the ideal gateway for investments in EU.
The main topics to be discussed are:
- Suitability of Cypriot Holding companies
- The extensive banking possibilities in Cyprus
- Investment activties ideally suited to Cypriot tax environment:
- Holding Companies
- Finance Companies
- Royalty companies
- Investment fund
Glossary