Cabinet decision imposes white zone status on Geri, Idali, and Tseri industrial areas

The Cypriot Council of Ministers has designated the industrial zones of Geri, Idali, and Tseri as a 'white zone' for a period of two years. This measure, formalized through decrees by Minister of Interior Konstantinos Ioannou on March 20 and June 26, 2026, effectively halts all new category A (high disturbance) industrial developments. Approximately 50 businesses, primarily family-owned enterprises in plastics, construction materials, and metalworking, are affected by this policy. The industrial zone was originally established in the 1980s in an isolated location, but subsequent residential expansion brought housing developments into close proximity with these facilities. The Nicosia Provincial Self-Government Organization and local residents support the decision as a necessary step for public health and environmental protection. Conversely, the Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation and the area's Management Committee warn that this decision threatens the viability of heavy industry. Critics argue the state incentivized the initial investment in these zones, only to jeopardize the businesses later. There is ongoing concern that this temporary measure serves as a precursor to a permanent reclassification of the zone from category A to category B.