Limassol: Shipping and safeguarding the EU’s maritime transport competitiveness in the global market will be amongst the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU that will begin in January, President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides said Monday, in his opening address at the ‘Maritime Cyprus 2025’ Conference that began in Limassol.
According to Cyprus News Agency, President Christodoulides emphasized that enhancing the EU’s maritime transport competitiveness is crucial for strengthening the Union’s overall competitiveness. He noted that the theme of this year’s Maritime Cyprus 2025 conference, ‘Unlocking the Future of Shipping,’ reflects the industry’s current challenges and its ongoing drive to turn these challenges into opportunities.
The President highlighted Cyprus’s significant role in the maritime sector, with one of the largest fleets globally and a robust maritime cluster. Over the past two years, the exposure of Cyprus shipping has grown substantially, with the Cyprus Ship Registry increasing by 20% in gross tonnage, marking the highest level in two decades. The number of companies registered in the Cyprus Tonnage Tax System has risen by 15%, and the ship management sector’s contribution to Cyprus’s GDP increased by 27% from 2023 to 2024.
Christodoulides stated that enhancing the competitiveness of Cyprus shipping is a priority for the government. He expressed the government’s commitment to upgrading and strengthening the framework governing the Shipping Ministry’s services, with ongoing progress in the digitalization of the services offered by the Shipping Deputy Ministry. He announced the imminent launch of the first digital services next week.
Additionally, recognizing the potential of the cruise sector, the government approved the National Strategy for Cruise Tourism last October. The first stage of this strategy’s implementation has been completed, and a targeted Action Plan will soon be developed to enhance Cyprus as an attractive and competitive cruise destination.