CITEA proposes 1 billion euro investment for Cyprus national AI strategy

The Cyprus Information Technology Enterprises Association (CITEA) has submitted formal proposals regarding the "National AI Strategy 2032" during its public consultation phase. While acknowledging that the association was not involved in the initial drafting of the framework, CITEA expressed support for the strategic direction led by Chief Scientist Demetris Skourides and his team.

A primary recommendation from CITEA is the establishment of a National AI Investment Program with a minimum budget of 1 billion euros for the 2027–2032 period. According to CITEA President George Malekkos, this investment must be tied to clear budgetary allocations, defined project responsibilities, and strict key performance indicators (KPIs). The association suggests that the first formal assessment of the strategy's implementation should take place in June 2027, measuring project completion, SME adoption rates, and economic productivity gains.

CITEA maintains that the private sector should play an active role in decision-making and financing to ensure the strategy is effectively executed. The association has explicitly requested that if objectives are not met by the initial 2027 review, the framework be re-evaluated to address potential shortcomings.