The Republic of Cyprus is a member state of the European Union. Although it is situated in Asia, Cyprus is often associated with Europe because of the culture and history of the people. The capital of the Republic is Nicosia. Most of the population speaks Greek, and a minority is Turkish-speaking.

The economy of Cyprus is classified by the World Bank as a high-income economy, and was included by the International Monetary Fund in its list of advanced economies. Strategically located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa, Cyprus has been an important centre of trade for thousands of years. Since joining the European Union in 2004, Cyprus has rapidly developed into a continental business center.