Deputy Shipping Minister promotes Cyprus bid for IMO in London visit

Deputy Minister of Shipping Marina Hadjimanolis had a series of high-level meetings in London as part of an official working visit aimed at strengthening bilateral maritime relations between Cyprus and the United Kingdom, and promoting Cyprus’ candidacy for re-election to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council, Category C, for the 2026–2027 term.

A key highlight of the visit was the meeting between Hadjimanolis and UK Minister for Shipping, Mike Kane. The two sides discussed current global shipping challenges, with particular focus on geopolitical developments and the need to maintain a stable and competitive international maritime environment.

Special emphasis was placed on joint actions planned under the Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries, which forms part of the Strategic Dialogue on maritime affairs between Cyprus and the UK, Deputy Ministry press release said.

As part of the visit, the Deputy Minister also met with the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey. Their discussion centered on the progress of implementing the Memorandum of Understanding signed in April 2024 between the Deputy Ministry of Shipping, the Commonwealth, and the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI) for the establishment of a Commonwealth Blue Charter Centre of Excellence in Cyprus.

"This initiative is a milestone for enhancing Cyprus’s role as a regional maritime and ocean governance hub," it is added.

To further promote Cyprus’s IMO candidacy, Hadjimanolis participated in a special event hosted by the Deputy Ministry of Shipping at the IMO headquarters, attended by the IMO Secretary-General and representatives of member states. Additionally, the Deputy Minister hosted a working lunch for the High Commissioners of Commonwealth countries, where she presented Cyprus’s priorities and longstanding contribution to global shipping.

The visit also included bilateral meetings with the Ministers of Shipping of South Africa and Nigeria, aimed at strengthening cooperation and exchanging views on international developments affecting the maritime sector.

Hadjimanolis’ visit to London is part of a broader strategic outreach framework by Cyprus’s maritime administration ahead of the critical IMO elections scheduled for November this year.