Cyprus Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in cyprus, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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eCommerce
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Republic of Cyprus:

The ROC is working to enhance digital skills and help expand e-Commerce on the island.  While in the past individuals and companies were skeptical about using e-Commerce, COVID-19 economic conditions accelerated and significantly increased the use of online services from supermarket/online food deliveries to clothing sales and purchases, among others.  The pandemic brought e-Commerce to the forefront and helped Cypriot consumers warm up to the idea faster than anticipated.  While web-based trade remains relatively small, it is steadily growing. Most companies now have their own websites, Facebook and Instagram pages, and an increased social media presence. Cypriots are becoming accustomed to online financial services for routine transactions rather than walking into their local bank branch.  The legal framework for e-Commerce is under the authority of the Ministry of Energy, Commerce, and Industry (MECI) with law {L.156(I)2004}, and amendment law {L.97(I)2007}: “Certain Aspects of Information Society Services, Electronic Commerce, and Related Matters” which are based on EU Directive 2000/31/EC. The Government launched its centralized government portal  in  July 2022.  and now offers more digital services and information through the Web.

Area Administered by Turkish Cypriots:

E-commerce is limited but growing.  Online banking services are advanced, as competition is fierce from Türkiye-based banks.  Most “government” offices and “ministries” have a website, and some are starting to offer services, mainly in Turkish language.  However, in general the Turkish Cypriot authorities continue to lag behind the private sector in this regard.

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Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

Limitations

As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

Privacy

The Chatbot does not collect information about users and does not use the contents of users’ chat history to learn new information. All feedback is anonymous. Please do not enter personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive, or proprietary information into the Chatbot. Your conversations will not be connected to other interactions or accounts with ITA. Conversations with the Chatbot may be reviewed to help ITA improve the tool and address harmful, illegal, or otherwise inappropriate questions.

Translation

The Chatbot supports a wide range of languages. Because the Chatbot is trained in English and responses are translated, you should verify the translation. For example, the Chatbot may have difficulty with acronyms, abbreviations, and nuances in a language other than English.

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