Restaurants closing down ‘one by one’

RESTAURANTS are going out of business due to increased costs, particularly for electricity, the head of an association has said.

North Cyprus Restaurant Association (Res-Bir) president Salih Kayım (pictured) said that restaurants’ electricity bills during the summer “were on average 80,000TL to 85,000TL”.

He called on the government to set up a solar energy system, and that ResBir members want a “long-term, lowinterest loan in Turkish lira” to help pay for it.

He pointed out that their requests for solar energy installations “have not been met in any way”.

“This year, only 400 of the 800 registered Res-Bir members have renewed their membership,” he said.

“Some restaurants closed down and others were not even able to pay their dues . . . Rising energy prices have affected many sectors and products, such as meat, chicken, milk and dairy products.”

Referring to fuel prices, Mr Kayım stated that while oil prices have gone down globally, pump prices in the TRNC have not decreased because the US dollar, which oil imports are priced in, has increased in value.

Mr Kayım indicated that “increasing domestic production is important” as this can help reduce costs.