A bicommunal conference entitled “Smart City” will be held early May with the participation of international companies that will deal with the implementation of high technology electronic systems for the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta during the town`s reconstruction.

The announcement was made during a press conference on Tuesday by Chairman of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry Fidias Pilides, who said the conference will be attended by President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci.

He said the whole venture, which includes the fenced off part of Varosha, which is under the Turkish Armed Forces, was presented to Anastasiades who is positive while Akinci`s position has not been conveyed yet but the project will be presented to him by members of the Chamber.

Cypriot company Logicom will finance the conference and is confident that it will be attended by companies such as Microsoft and Intel.

According to the Chamber`s General Secretary Marios Tsakis, an example of a Smart City in Europe is Barcelona, noting that everything can be done with renewable energy resources, avoiding pollution and having a city that is clear with infrastructure and a metro.

With a high level technology system, he said, everything will be controlled electronically including traffic lights and local administration.

Noting there is really now a good opportunity to solve the Cyprus problem, Pilides said that at the end of the day, Turkey and those who can contribute should do so to bring about a solution.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. UN-led talks, aiming to reunite the island under a federal roof, resumed last May.