The Shipping Deputy Ministry of the Republic of Cyprus and the Ministry of Transport of the Arab Republic of Egypt successfully held the first meeting of the Joint Maritime Committee (JMC) in Limassol, marking a significant step in strengthening maritime cooperation between the two countries, putting into effect the Merchant Shipping Agreement signed between the two countries in 2006.

This newly established Committee serves as a permanent platform for dialogue, coordination, and cooperation on all maritime matters of mutual interest, enabling Cyprus and Egypt to work together in a more concrete and continuous manner, examining joint areas of cooperation across the maritime sector and promoting the long-term development of their bilateral relationship.

The inaugural session of the Committee was co-chaired by Dr. Stelios D. Himonas, Permanent Secretary of the Shipping Deputy Ministry of Cyprus and Rear Admiral Nihad Shaheen, Deputy Minister for Maritime and Logistics Affairs of Egypt. High-level representatives from both sides participated, including officials from the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works and the Cyprus Ports Authority, ensuring the active involvement of all key maritime stakeholders.

The discussions focused on enhancing cooperation under the 2006 Merchant Shipping Agreement, including specific agenda items such as collaboration within the framework of the Mediterranean Memorandum of Understanding (MED MoU), mutual cooperation and support within the framework of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), cooperation in seafarer training and maritime education, including partnerships between educational institutions in both countries and mechanisms for implementing joint training programs. In addition, they addressed issues related to cooperation and development between Cypriot and Egyptian ports.

Both co-chairs reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to work together through this Committee to transform dialogue into practical cooperation and to build a long-term partnership, turning their shared vision into tangible achievements for the benefit of both our maritime sectors. The next session of the Committee was scheduled to take place within the next year in Egypt, with the objective of monitoring the areas of cooperation that have been identified during the 1^st session.

On 16 October 2025, the Egyptian delegation visited the Port of Limassol, hosted by the Cyprus Ports Authority. The field visit included presentations on port operations, infrastructure projects, digitalization initiatives, and green transition strategies. The delegation toured the port facilities and discussed opportunities for future collaboration in this field.