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Advocating
Reconciliation
through Economic
Interdependence
Two years ago,
on July 2011, KTTO,
together with the
Cyprus Chamber of
Commerce and
Industry, its
counterpart in the
southern part of the
island, demonstrated
how fruitful
business cooperation
can lead to a
landmark success for
the benefit of whole
Cyprus. Following an
explosion in the
Greek Cypriot
ammunition site near
the town of Mari,
also home for a
major power plant,
South Cyprus had
experienced a
serious power supply
breakdown at the
peak of the tourism
season, with
temperatures rising
above 40°C.
Owing to good
relations built up
between them over
the years, the two
Chambers have
successfully managed
to initiate a deal
between the official
authorities of both
sides, which
facilitated
electricity supply
from the North to
the South. When the
Greek Cypriot side
became
self-sufficient,
sale of electricity
stopped. However,
the deal produced a
permanent outcome:
Power networks of
both sides are now
ready to be
interconnected at a
very short notice if
such a need arises
again.
Here, the crucial
role of the
Economic
Interdependence
Project,in
institutionalizing
and enhancing the
cooperation between
the two Chambers
cannot be emphasized
enough.The Project
which is financed by
USAID through
UNDP-ACT to create
economic
interdependence
between the business
communities on both
sides, successfully
provided the two
Chambers with the
means to advance
their relations and
contribute to the
reconciliation on
the island.
However, building
economic bridges
across the Green
line can be quite
challenging as it is
not always easy for
the Chambers to keep
their base focused
on the big picture
when the political
climate is not
always favorable for
cooperation. Due to
lack of a permanent
settlement to the
Cyprus problem,
there are only a
limited number of
tools available to
advocate for the
advancement of
economic relations
between the two
communities on the
island.
Nevertheless,
despite its
hardships, the two
Chambers have
managed to remain
committed to
enhancing their
cooperation at the
business level as
well as contributing
to the
interdependence
project in achieving
its objectives.
It is as a result of
this commitment that
the project produced
many tangible
outcomes.
The
business directory
created for
businesses from both
sides and,
“Nine O Clock
News in 2030”
mockumentary which aimed to
provide people in
Cyprus with a vision
that their island
will be a much
better place to live
after a political
settlement, are only
two of them.
Now that the project
is coming to an end,
the two Chambers are
currently working to
finalize their work
with a new campaign
for reconciliation.
KTTO firmly believes
that the improvement
of economic
cooperation between
the two communities
is crucial for the
reconciliation
process and for the
sustainability of
the comprehensive
settlement on the
island. It is with
this vision that
KTTO will continue
its efforts for the
advancement of
economic relations
between the two
sides.
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