Neapolis selected as prototype for a European Smart EcoCity

The Neapolis Project (“Neapolis Smart EcoCity”) has been selected by the European Commission to be presented to the Pan European Conference on Smart EcoCities and Communities as a prototype for a Smart and Sustainable Urban Development.

As a result of this selection, and following an invitation from the European Commission, a delegation of the management of the Project headed by the Executive Chairman Mr. Michael Leptos presented Neapolis to the Conference held in Brussels on 10 July 2010.

The Conference was the launching of the Smart EcoCities and Communities Initiative of the European Commission that aims to enhance the European Union policies on energy, transport and information communication technology for the promotion of sustainable urban development.

In his address to the Conference, Mr. George Leptos, Chief Executive Officer of the Project, stated that Neapolis is a new city being developed in a green environment that applies the latest technology in sustainability systems, especially regarding energy efficiency, reduction of carbon emissions and transport facilitation with the goal of enhancing the quality of life. Neapolis combines, amongst others, a high quality Hospital, a Wellness Center, a University, a Cultural Park, an Innovation and Research Center, a Commercial and Office Center and large green areas and sets an example for sustainable urban developments in Cyprus and internationally.

The Conference was attended by European Commissioners (Gunther Oettinger – Energy, Johannes Hahn – Regional Policy, Siim Kallas – Transport, Neelie Kroes – Digital Agenda), European Commission officials and government officials from the 27 member states. Also attending were representatives of the private sector, including large industrial companies with activities in energy, transport and information communication technology.

The Republic of Cyprus was represented by the Ministry of the Interior Ms. Eleni Mavrou who, in introducing the presentation of Neapolis, expressed the support of the government to the Neapolis Project as the latter is within the scope of the Strategic Growth Plan of the Cyprus government.

The Cypriot Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Mr. Neoklis Silikiotis, under his capacity as acting Chairman of the Council of Ministers for Energy, presented the European Union policy for Smart Eco Cities and Communities.

The selection of Neapolis represents a great honor not only for the Project itself but also for Cyprus in general, and is significant since Neapolis is expected to be used as a prototype for sustainable urban developments in the future.