Marina Hadjimanolis: Maritime Cyprus 2025 and Cyprus’ re-election to IMO Council top priorities for 2025

Maritime Cyprus 2025 and Cyprus’ re-election to the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) are the Deputy Ministry of Shipping’s two top priorities for the year, Marina Hadjimanolis told a press briefing on 6 May.

During the event, she presented the deputy ministry’s work and activities so far and discussed the policies and actions planned for the near future.

According to the government official, this year, the international maritime conference “Maritime Cyprus 2025” will take place on 6–8 October in Limassol and is expected to attract over 1,000 delegates, including distinguished personalities, senior executives from the international maritime community, and representatives from the political and business world.

Meanwhile, Hadjimanolis said Cyprus’ re-election to the Council of the IMO for the 2026–2027 term, was vital: “Our goal is to maintain and strengthen Cyprus’ voice in international forums and to ensure our active and effective participation in decision-making processes.”

Shipping contributes 7% to the country's GDP

The Deputy Minister said that as an island nation with a long-standing tradition in shipping, the significance of the maritime sector is undeniably great. “Firstly, shipping contributes significantly to the economy—around 7% of GDP—while its impact on the country’s social and political development is equally important,” she pointed out.

She added, “As you know, our country is a globally recognised maritime centre, encompassing a wide range of shipping-related activities. The continuous upgrade of our services, high-quality customer service, ship safety, the expertise and know-how of our human resources, effective administration, as well as strategic bilateral agreements with other countries, have positioned Cypriot shipping as a key pillar of economic development”.

At the same time, Hadjimanolis said, the Cypriot flag has established itself as one of the most reliable and competitive on the global maritime stage.

Promotional campaigns in major maritime centres

“Naturally, our efforts to further promote the Cypriot flag and Cyprus as an international maritime state are ongoing,” she said, adding that the deputy ministry will be participating in promotional campaigns in major maritime centres such as Athens, London, the USA, Singapore, and Shanghai over the next few months.

At the same time, the Deputy Ministry of Shipping is progressing with the completion of its digital transformation and green transition, aiming to provide immediate and effective services to the shipping community and the public, Hadjimanolis said, to add that the first services are expected to be available soon.

The Deputy Ministry is also implementing policies to attract services related to shipping, particularly in areas such as digital technologies, research and development, and services for recreational vessels. “Our goal is to create a dynamic ecosystem and to shape a sustainable and competitive environment for Cypriot shipping,” the deputy minister explained.

During the event, she highlighted how important the media’s involvement in Cypriot shipping is. “For us at the Deputy Ministry of Shipping, your collaboration is invaluable, as through your work, you showcase Cyprus' maritime sector and contribute to achieving our strategic goals,” Hadjimanolis told attending journalists.

“As we continue our work, the Deputy Ministry of Shipping remains fully committed to our strategic objectives,” she said concluding. “Our ongoing efforts focus on strengthening Cypriot shipping, increasing the competitiveness of the Cypriot registry, promoting sustainable shipping, ensuring navigational safety, and enhancing international cooperation.”