The Nicosia Development Agency (ANEL) participated in the 2nd Technical Meeting of the “EL-OINON RIZES , OLIVE & VINE – CULTURAL PATHS OF KNOWLEDGE” project, which took place on 30 June and 1 July 2026 within the framework of the Interreg VI-A Greece–Cyprus Programme 2021–2027.
The meeting was hosted by the Crete Winemakers Network at the H2B HUB and was held in a hybrid format, enabling participants to attend both in person and online.
Participants were welcomed by the President of the Crete Winemakers Network, Mr. Stelios Zacharioudakis, who highlighted the importance of cross-border cooperation in addressing contemporary challenges facing modern vineyards and olive groves, as well as the benefits of networking at local, national, and cross-border levels.
During the two-day meeting, partners reviewed the progress made in the implementation of the project’s Work Packages and Deliverables, discussed administrative and financial matters, and held an in-depth discussion on the findings of the baseline analysis conducted in the project intervention areas. Emphasis was placed on the results of the market research concerning tourists’ perceptions and preferences regarding the purchase of olive oil and wine.
As part of the meeting, participants also took part in a technical visit to the facilities of the Crete Winemakers Network, as well as to a local winery, where they were introduced to the region’s winemaking infrastructure and practices through a guided wine-tasting experience. The visit provided an opportunity to explore practical ways of applying the project’s outcomes under real operating conditions.
The 2nd Technical Meeting concluded with the agreement on a common roadmap for the next phase of project implementation and the reaffirmation of all partners’ commitment to maintaining close cooperation, particularly in relation to project communication activities and participation in international tourism exhibitions.
The EL-OINON RIZES project is co-funded by the European Union (ERDF) and by national resources of Greece and Cyprus under the Interreg VI-A Greece–Cyprus Programme 2021–2027. The project’s main objective is to strengthen the role of culture and sustainable tourism in economic development by promoting and capitalising on the cultural heritage of the olive tree and the vine. It aims to help rebuild a sustainable tourism model that promotes cultural knowledge and heritage, offering an alternative to the widely promoted “sun and sea” tourism model.
