Muscat: Deputy Minister of Shipping, Marina Hadjmanolis, signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the Republic of Cyprus and Oman in the field of shipping during an official visit to the Sultanate of Oman on February 2 and 3, following an invitation from the Minister of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology of Oman.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the signing ceremony included two pivotal MoUs aimed at fostering mutually beneficial cooperation in shipping, alongside a mutual recognition agreement for certificates of competence for commercial ship officers issued by both nations. These agreements underline the commitment of both Cyprus and Oman to enhance cooperation in maritime affairs.
The ceremony was graced by the presence of the Deputy Foreign Minister of Oman. Prior to the signing, a bilateral meeting between the ministers took place, addressing mutual interests encapsulated in the MoUs, with the objective of strengthening ties between the two countries.
During the visit, Hadjmanolis extended an official invitation to the Omani Minister of Transport to attend the ‘Shipping Cyprus 2025’ conference, which was accepted. Furthermore, a meeting with the Omani Minister of Tourism was arranged to discuss a new government initiative aimed at boosting cruise tourism in Cyprus. The ministers agreed to collaborate by sharing best practices to advance the sector, which is a shared priority.
In efforts to promote Cypriot shipping, Hadjmanolis met with the management of Asyad, a state-owned shipping company. The advantages of the Cypriot shipping registry and the significant opportunities Cyprus offers as a major ship management hub were highlighted. The government’s strategy to enhance the sector by implementing policies to attract and develop shipping-related services was also discussed.
Additionally, Hadjmanolis visited the Oman Maritime Security Center to understand its operational framework, focusing particularly on marine environmental protection efforts. Throughout her visit, the Deputy Minister was accompanied by the Cypriot Ambassador to Oman, Agis Loizou.