Christodoulides: One-stop shop shipping centre to open in November

President Nikos Christodoulides addressed the Maritime Cyprus Conference in Limassol, noting that his presence at the event indicated the importance the state places on the shipping sector.

The President also announced that along with the simplification of the shipping company law, a one-stop ship shipping centre would begin operating on the premises of the Deputy Ministry for Shipping in Limassol from next month.

On the event itself, Christodoulides noted that the conference provided an important platform for the exchange of ideas and discussion on the most pressing challenges of the time for the shipping industry.

“My presence here today underlines the importance the government of Cyprus attaches to shipping and the blue economy,” Christodoulides said.

He noted that shipping was one of the most important pillars of the Cyprus economy and one that had contributed significantly to the country’s GDP for many years.

Adding that shipping had been part of Cyprus’ history since ancient times, the President noted that the island’s shipping registry was now in 11th position worldwide and 3rd in the EU, with the country having a strong presence on both a European and international level.

He noted that the shipping sector of Cyprus was more than the country’s ship registry, as Cyprus was also a major maritime cluster with many companies based or with a presence on the island.

He also said that Cyprus was considered be the largest ship management centre in Europe and that Moody’s recent upgrading of the Cyprus economy would also contribute to the further development of the sector.

Christodoulides said that the government was committed to a path of stability, one of several qualities that continued to make the country attractive to the shipping sector, along with a stable fiscal and business-friendly environment, on-site expertise, and service-oriented environment, and excellent cooperation between the private and public sector.

The island’s attractive tonnage system is another plus.

Christodoulides also referred to the importance of the shipping sector and blue environment on a national and international level, something he noted meant that it deserved support.

He also touched on the issue of difficulties in attracting new staff to the sector as well as underlining the importance of the participation of women within a generally more diverse shipping sector.

(Click here to see Christodoulides' full speech, as provided by the PIO).

Christodoulides also went on to present Kitack Lim, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, with a gift in recognition of his services to the industry.

Lim and then Adina Vălean, European Commissioner for Transport addressed the conference, Lim onsite, and Vălean through a video greeting.

The Maritime Cyprus Conference is an established biennial event organised by the Shipping Deputy Ministry in cooperation with the Cyprus Shipping Chamber and the Cyprus Union of Shipowners.

Since being established in 1989, it has grown into one of the world’s most significant shipping conferences, bringing together more than 1,000 participants, including shipowners, shipping executives, regulators, and state officials from all over the world, including high-calibre speakers.

As noted by its organisers, Maritime Cyprus provides the opportunity to the participants to become familiar with the strong maritime tradition of Cyprus and the maritime cluster in Limassol. The event also aims to help ensure Cyprus maintains and enhances its role as an advanced, proactive, competitive maritime nation with a positive contribution both in Europe and internationally.

Speakers and panelists at this year’s event will include President Nikos Christodoulides, Dr. Stelios D. Himonas, Conference Chairman, Permanent Secretary, Shipping Deputy Ministry, Kitack Lim, Secretary General, International Maritime Organization, Adina Vâlean, European Commissioner for Transport, Marina Hadjimanolis, Shipping Deputy Minister to the President, Arsenio Dominguez, Director, Marine Environment Division, Secretary-General Elect, IMO.

They also included but are not limited to Themis Papadopoulos, CSC President, CEO, Interorient Navigation Co Ltd, Emanuele Grimaldi, ICS Chairman, President & MD, Grimaldi Euromed SpA, Philippos Philis, ECSA President, Chairman & CEO, Lemissoler Navigation Ltd., Dr Gaby Bornheim, President, German Shipowners' Association, Nikolaus H. Schues, President, BIMCO, George Mouskas, Vice President, Cyprus Union of Shipowners, Andreas Hadjiyiannis, President Cyprus Union of Shipowners

Panel discussions included in this year’s programme, with the participation of high profile invited shipping specialists, will be discussing the main challenges shipping faces today, including ‘Sustainable Shipping towards 2050: a Mission (Im)Possible?,’ ‘The Shipowners’ perspective on the future of EU shipping,’ ‘Challenge Accepted: Energy Transition – Where do we Stand?,’ ‘The Role of Shipbuilding in an Evolving Shipping Industry,’ ‘Navigating the Seas of Capital: Exploring Ship Finance,’ and ‘Digital Transformation and current developments.’