American Brands and Business in Cyprus

coveR MADE IN THE USA SToRY American brands and business in Cyprus 34 | GOLD | The Business Magazine of Cyprus Relations between the United States and Cyprus may, at first glance, appear to be a rather odd, uneven combination, given that they involve one of the world’s biggest economies and one of the smallest and it is a fact that, over the years, diplomatic relations at least have resembled a roller-coaster ride of occasional highs and more than a few lows. Nonetheless, economic and trade relations between the two countries are thriving and, according to US Ambassador Judith Garber, there is great potential for even stronger ties (see her exclusive GOLD interview on page 34). Earlier this year, Cyprus took a bold step towards gaining a foothold in a totally new but lucrative industry – film & TV production – by offering a variety of incentives to film studios that produce movies on the island. It is no coincidence that the first feature film to be shot entirely in Cyprus is an American production. US imports and investments are playing a growing role in the Cypriot business world, boosting sectors such as financial services, consumer goods and, in particular, energy, notably after the discovery of natural gas offshore by the US company Noble Energy, which acted as an economic breakthrough, attracting new investment and job opportunities in a brand new industry. American influence on Cypriot society and culture has been growing since the country gained independence in 1960 and it continues to grow, thanks in part to globalisation. The bilateral economic and business relationship between the US and Cyprus is promoted here primarily by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) (see page 44 for an interview with the organisation’s President) whose Board of Directors is made up of well-known Cypriot entrepreneurs from a wide range of sectors (page 42). The extent of the American presence in the Cypriot market may be seen in our list of 25 US companies that are currently operating on the island and in another of the popular American brands and products that are not only available in Cyprus but are, in many instances, things that many of us could not envisage living without. As we looked at all things American for this issue of GOLD, we wondered what living in Cyprus must be like for American citizens who have made their way to our part of the world. So, in addition to the US Ambassador, we also spoke to Ryan Barnard, Design Global Development Director at Wargaming Group Ltd, and Fritz Merz, Geologic Operations Advisor at ExxonMobil (Cyprus) Ltd. (page 52) who shared their views on life on a small Mediterranean island. By John Vickers, Artemis Constantinidou & Angeliki Jacovides | Photos by TASPHO www.goldnews.com.cy | GOLD | 35 coveR US AMBASSADOR SToRY In an exclusive GOLD interview, Judith Garber discusses US foreign policy issues, including problems with China and Russia, the fundamental link between national security and the economy, the Cyprus Problem and the search for a settlement. She also reveals why she believes that this is such a great time be the US Ambassador to the Republic of Cyprus. By John Vickers Cyprus-USA: An Expanding and Broadening partnership36 | GOLD | The Business Magazine of Cyprus see students demonstrating outside the GOLD: Last month, the leaders of embassy last month over an event that the two communities met with the took place over 45 years ago? UN Secretary-General in Berlin, both J.G.: You know, peaceful assembly is a insisting that they want to resolve the part of democracy and the democratic island’s division, but they have still process. Freedom of expression and free- not managed to agree on the terms of dom of assembly are enshrined in our reference to restart talks on reunifica- constitution. When people feel passion- tion, let alone negotiate a settlement. ate about something, it’s actually great Do you think time is running out for to see them holding peaceful demonstra- Cyprus? How can the present dead- tions. lock be broken? Is there a role for the United States in efforts to reach an GOLD: The US government has been agreement or is a question of ‘leave it very clear in its support for Cyprus re- to the UN’? garding its energy programme and its J.G.: Well, it’s not really ‘leave it to plans for natural gas exploration and the UN’. As I have already said, this is exploitation, which involve two major a Cypriot-led process facilitated by the ow much did you know about US companies. You are aware of Turkey’s United Nations. I think it’s really posi- HCyprus when you were appointed views and actions in this regard, however. tive that the leaders met in Berlin last as Ambassador and what were your Do you agree with the view expressed by month with the UN Secretary-General initial feelings on hearing where you some observers that Cyprus ought to use and reaffirmed some important princi- would be spending the next three the energy issue as a ‘bargaining chip’ in ples. My government would like to see years? its efforts to gain Turkish approval of a the resumption of formal negotiations Judith Garber: My family and I were reunification deal? Or should it remain soon but, in terms of the timetable, that absolutely delighted to learn that our outside the scope of any talks until agree- really needs to be coming from the com- next assignment would be the Republic ment is reached? munities themselves, driving this process of Cyprus. We served in the Eastern J.G.: As you noted, the United States has forward with the United Nations. So, Mediterranean before and everybody re- been very outspoken and clear about our any kind of framework or timetable is ally loved it. I’ve spent most of my career support for the right of the Republic of going to be decided by the parties them- on transatlantic relations so I had some Cyprus to develop the resources within its selves. familiarity with Cyprus in that context exclusive economic zone. Regarding the and, of course, since I’ve been here, I’ve negotiation process, we continue to sup- GOLD: You will know about the been learning the reality of Cyprus. port negotiations to reunify the island as a financial and banking crises that af- bi-communal bizonal federation and that fected Cyprus in 2013 but do you see GOLD: How would you describe your is a Cypriot-driven, Cypriot-led process, any signs of crisis today? How do you first nine months in Nicosia? facilitated and coordinated by the United view the country’s economy as 2020 J.G.: It’s been absolutely wonderful. Nations. In our view, it’s really up to the approaches? It’s a beautiful island; the history, the leaders of both communities to set the agen- J.G.: I certainly don’t see any signs of a crisis culture, the food...! And the people are da, decide what the framework is, figure out right now and, in fact, many of the econom- just so warm and hospitable, so on a per- what they’re going to be talking about and ic indicators are extremely good: unemploy- sonal level it’s been absolutely fantastic. what the pace of the talks will be. ment has been going down pretty steadily Professionally, what has really struck me is what a great time it is to be the US Cyprus-USA: ambassador to the Republic of Cyprus. We’re really deepening and expanding and broadening our partnership in so An Expanding many different areas, it’s very dynamic and so there’s a lot of opportunity, which makes it a lot of fun. isNational economic securitysecurity and Broadening GOLD: Given those much-improved and the two very relations between the US and Cyprus in recent years, were you surprised to much go together www.goldnews.com.cy | GOLD | 37 coveR US AMBASSADOR SToRY US-Republic of Cyprus economic ties are very good but there’s still a lot of room for growth in those ties and the Republic of Cyprus has one of the GOLD: The world is still concerned US does not appear to have convinced fastest growth rates within the European about the ongoing trade/tariff ‘wars’ be- its allies about the risks that Huawei Union right now. Not many countries can tween the US and China and, to a lesser may pose to their national security. Are say that. Since the 2013 crisis, there have extent, between the US and the EU. US fears truly justified? been a lot of important structural reforms President Trump himself has said that J.G.: Yes, absolutely. Concerns over the undertaken by the Government and progress a strong global economy is essential to reliability of the networks, over data pri- is continuing in those areas. So the prospects achieving the goal of American security, vacy issues with regard to the networks are definitely much better than they were just so are you hopeful that a mutually ben- and, frankly, their security are very much a few years ago and I think it’s important to eficial solution can be reached in both justified. 5G is going to be transforma- recognize that. instances? tional: it will form the backbone of all of J.G.: Our National Security strategy is very our economies and be the key to how GOLD: A couple of months ago, the clear; National security is economic secu- government services are provided in the Chairwoman of the US House Committee rity and the two very much go together.

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