The Cyprus Marine Club, held a highly successful event on June 27th, 2023, with Ms. Marina Hadjimanolis, the Shipping Deputy Minister, as the guest speaker. The event, titled ‘Hundred days in charge as Shipping Deputy Minister,’ provided an excellent opportunity for industry professionals to engage in discussions and gain valuable insights into the future plans and goals of the Shipping Deputy Ministry.

Captain Eberhard Koch, President of the Cyprus Marine Club, expressed his sincere appreciation on behalf of all Board Members and Members of the Cyprus Marine Club to Ms. Hadjimanolis for graciously accepting the invitation to attend the event.

In her presentation, Ms. Hadjimanolis shared the Shipping Deputy Ministry’s plans and goals, focusing on collaboration, innovation, and competitiveness as key drivers, outlining a comprehensive roadmap aimed at propelling Cyprus to the forefront of the global shipping landscape. One of the notable highlights of Ms. Hadjimanolis’s presentation was the emphasis on the competitive advantages of the Cyprus Shipping Cluster. She emphasized Cyprus’s robust maritime infrastructure and skilled workforce, as well as the active participation of Cyprus in international shipping fora such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO), International Labour Organization (ILO), and the European Union (EU).

The Shipping Deputy Ministry’s plans encompass various initiatives, including the implementation of the One Stop Shipping Centre, which will simplify procedures, and ensure a more flexible, effective, efficient and customer-oriented service, as well as the implementation of the Shipping Limited Liability Company (S.L.L.C), which will provide additional benefits for such companies. Other key objectives mentioned by Ms. Hadjimanolis included the completion of the digital transformation of all services of the Shipping Deputy Ministry, promoting gender equality in shipping through collaboration with the Commissioner for Gender Equality, and raising public awareness with respect to the importance of maritime-related professions.

Ms. Hadjimanolis, also informed those attending the event that this year marks the 60^th anniversary of the Cyprus Register of Ships, emphasizing the fact that it has developed into a leading and important Registry, with a strong voice in the international shipping scene.

Expressing gratitude to the Cyprus shipping industry, Ms. Hadjimanolis highlighted its importance as a valuable asset with significant political and economic advantages. She reaffirmed the government’s strong commitment to the shipping sector and its determination to lead the way towards a new era.

The presentation concluded at 19:15hrs and brought further fascinating conversations among an enthusiastic audience, who explored interesting topics with the Minister and continued sharing their thoughts during the cocktail and rich buffet that followed and lasted until very late evening.