Nicosia: The Deputy Minister for Shipping, Marina Hadjimanolis, engaged in a series of diplomatic meetings in Bahrain, aiming to strengthen bilateral relations between Cyprus and Bahrain. The visit, which occurred between September 5 and 8, 2026, was initiated by an invitation from Bahrain's Minister of Transport and Telecommunications, Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa. During her stay, Hadjimanolis also met with Bahrain's Minister for Industry and Trade, and a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on maritime cooperation was signed.

According to Cyprus News Agency, the visit followed the official visit of the President of Cyprus to Bahrain in January 2026. It highlighted the intent of both nations to deepen their bilateral relations. In discussions with Bahrain's Minister of Transport and Telecommunications, several specific areas of interest from Bahrain's perspective were addressed.

The MoU signed during the visit aims to establish a framework for practical cooperation and the exchange of expertise between Cyprus and Bahrain. The press release detailed that a meeting was also held between Hadjimanolis and Bahrain's Minister of Industry and Trade, at the request of the Bahraini leadership. The discussions focused on evaluating and enhancing bilateral economic and trade relations, with emphasis on developing new partnerships and business opportunities in the shipping services sector.

During her visit, the Deputy Minister toured Khalifa Bin Salman Port, where she was briefed by APM Terminals Bahrain on their operations, including the cruise terminal and logistics zone. She also exchanged views with Bahraini officials regarding the port's development and the broader shipping industry.

Accompanying Hadjimanolis were Stavros Stavrou, President of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Zacharias Siokouros, Chief Executive of the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute. They conducted separate meetings with Bahraini government officials, business leaders, and academic representatives to explore opportunities for cooperation, investment, and innovation. A MoU was also signed between CMMI and Bahrain Polytechnic to collaborate in research, education, and knowledge exchange.

Hadjimanolis also participated in an interview with AlAyam Publishing, one of Bahrain's leading media outlets. Throughout her visit, she was accompanied by Andreas Eliades, the Ambassador of Cyprus to Bahrain.