Nicosia Municipality has awarded a feasibility study contract to an international consultancy for the SOPAZ conference and exhibition centre project, with completion scheduled by 2025, whilst government proposals to convert the State Fair grounds into a technology park have been abandoned following public opposition.
Mayor Charalambos Prountzos’s is pursuing interconnected development strategies for both sites, requesting transfer of at least four state-owned land parcels to expand the SOPAZ project beyond 300,000 square metres. The coordinated approach represents a departure from earlier government plans that faced widespread resistance from Nicosia residents since before the 2023 presidential elections.
The SOPAZ project will proceed through strategic investor partnerships, with municipal sources reporting substantial private sector interest has already materialised. The development envisions a modern conference and exhibition facility complemented by sports and entertainment infrastructure currently absent from eastern Nicosia.
Municipal officials have linked both projects with broader infrastructure improvements, including reconstruction of Ammochostos Avenue to enhance regional connectivity. The upgraded road network will provide direct access between eastern Nicosia and the motorway system via the University of Cyprus, addressing long-standing transportation limitations in the underdeveloped area.
The State Fair site conversion has evolved significantly from the original government technology park proposals. Public opposition effectively stalled the initial plans, creating space for alternative proposals. The State Fair now is en route to becoming Cyprus’s largest metropolitan park covering approximately 250,000 square metres. Current planning limits pavilion structures to roughly 10% of the total site area.
The municipality has designed an interim coordination strategy wherein the State Fair site will maintain limited exhibition operations during SOPAZ development.
This transitional arrangement enables seamless service transfer once the modern conference facilities become operational, ensuring continuity for exhibition activities whilst both projects advance simultaneously.