MP Anthony Albanese has ended his week-long trip to Cyprus strengthening ties between Larnaca and its Australian sister city, Marrickville.
The Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport met with the mayor of Larnaca, Andreas N. Louroutziatis to collaborate on trade and discuss further contributions the two countries can make.
The Minster was curious to see how the city transformed its ports into important commercial centres in the last two decades.
Being an island state, Cyprus relies almost entirely on ports for it international trade.
Mr Albanese praised the “important contribution Australia’s Cypriot community” and in discussed how to “encourage more cultural and social contact as well as education and economic opportunities between our two cities”.
The Minister also met with His Beatitude Chrysostomos II, Archbishop of Nova Justiniana and All Cyprus, Minister for Communications and Works, Efthemios Flourentzou, General Secretary of AKEL, Andros Kyprianou, and the Mayor of Limassol, Mr Andreas Christou.
Marrickville is home to 5,000 Greek speaking residents, many of whom come from a Cypriot background.
The Minister is a long term supporter and advocate of justice for Cyprus and has attended many commemorative events in his electorate.
This is Mr Albanese’s second visit to Cyprus since he was elected into parliament and the second visit by a Labor Minister.

Neos Kosmos