Beginning in Limassol today, the Maritime Cyprus Conference will be bringing together hundreds of shipping sector leaders and executives from around the globe.
Organised every two years by the Shipping Deputy Ministry in cooperation with the Cyprus Shipping Chamber and the Cyprus Union of Shipowners, the 6-8 October event sees distinguished guests and world-class experts analyse and discuss specialised issues of concern to the shipping industry. This year's theme is “Unlocking the Future…of Shipping.”
More than 900 delegates from 35 countries and over 40 speakers are anticipated to be taking part.
The opening day, which CBN will be reporting on, will include addresses from President Nikos Christodoulides, Deputy Minster of Shipping Marina Hadjimanolis, the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Arsenio Dominguez and European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas.
Other distinguished attendees, meanwhile, also include leaders of major shipping associations such as ECSA and BIMCO, as well as foreign ministers.
There will also be expert panel discussions while, during the opening ceremony, President Christodoulides will present the Cyprus Shipping Award.
The main aim of the conference is to operate as a forum where important and current issues relating to international shipping are presented by distinguished speakers and subsequently discussed by the international shipping community, thereby helping to formulate sound and well-balanced decisions and policies on crucial shipping issues.
The Maritime Cyprus Conference also offers the opportunity to the participants to become familiar with the strong maritime tradition of Cyprus, its people and its environment. Its complete shipping infrastructure constitutes an invaluable asset, both for the expanded Europe and for the international shipping community in general.
Recently presenting the conference at a press briefing, Shipping Deputy Minister Marina Hadjimanolis said the event comes at a crucial moment for the maritime sector, facing both challenges and opportunities. She stressed that the government is proud of a 36-year-old institution that has grown into one of the world’s leading shipping conferences.
President of the Cyprus Union of Shipowners Polys Hajioannou, said the conference is expected to attract a strong presence of foreign shipowners, particularly from Greece. He noted that this year’s discussions coincide with the upcoming Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting at the IMO, with shipowners seeking clarity on future fuel rules that have created uncertainty across the industry.
Meanwhile, Cyprus Shipping Chamber President Andreas Neophytou welcomed the conference as one of the sector’s leading global gatherings.
According to Christiana Patsiou, Acting Director of the Shipping Cluster Development and Competitiveness Directorate, meanwhile, more than 900 delegates from 35 countries and over 40 speakers will take part. A Shipping Services Exhibition with more than 40 exhibitors from Cyprus and abroad will also run alongside the event.
Visit the Maritime Cyprus website for more information.
