Shipping has become one of the leading sectors of the Cypriot economy, President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades has said addressing the 28th Annual General Meeting of the Cyprus Shipping Chamber, that took place in Limassol.

In his address, read by the Minister of Transport, Marios Demetriades, the President said that Cyprus shipping

leads the way for the recovery of the economy adding that its contribution to the GDP reaches 7%.

Despite the economic difficulties we faced, he said, the Cyprus shipping succeeded in maintaining its competitiveness and positive prospects for further development.

Referring to the embargo that Turkey imposes on Cypriot flagged vessel, he reassured that the issue constitutes a priority for the government of Cyprus, noting that the government will strengthen its efforts to lift this ‘illegal trade limitation’.

The Chamber’s Annual General Meeting was attended by state and government dignitaries, political party representatives, members of the House of Representatives, diplomats, representatives of professional organisations and members of the Chamber.

Addresses at the Meeting were given also by Magda Kopczynska, Director for Waterborne Transport, Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport of the European Commission and the President of the Cyprus Shipping Chamber, Themis Papadopoulos.

In his address, the Cypriot President praised and congratulated the Cyprus Shipping Chamber for its continuous contribution and active involvement in the further development of Cyprus Shipping.

He reiterated that the Government is committed to providing the necessary political support to the Shipping Industry through the introduction of specific mechanisms, which are considered essential for reinforcing further this sector, such as the creation of a ‘Deputy Ministry of Shipping’.

He also expressed the belief that, through the Deputy Ministry of Shipping, Cyprus Shipping, for which the State feels proud of, will be able to continue and further increase its substantial socioeconomic contribution. To this end, he called upon the political parties to approve the bill for the creation of the Deputy Ministry.

In his address, President Anastasiades stressed that the sustainable development of the Cyprus shipping is one of the government`s priorities and pledged that the government ” will do its utmost to strengthen the competitiveness of our flag and the maritime sector”.

He added that the aim for the future is to consolidate and further develop Cyprus’ role in global shipping.

In her address, Magda Kopczynska, Director for Waterborne Transport, Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport of the European Commission, presented a general framework of the current Maritime Policy of the European Commission.

Kopczynska, also expressed the European Commission’s position with regard to the need for the urgent lifting of the Turkish Embargo on Cyprus ships, as well as the clear intention of the European Commission to maintain the “EU State Aid Maritime Guidelines for Maritime Transport”.

“Cyprus has many accomplishments to be proud for Shipping”, she said and added that “the Transport cluster definitely needs a strong Cyprus Shipping Community”.

She added that a reunified Cyprus will undoubtedly create enormous potentials for Cyprus Shipping.

“We are at the Commission level very well aware that the Turkish restrictive measures on vessels registered in or related to Cyprus hamper the development of Cyprus shipping” she noted, stressing that the Commission has repeatedly made it clear through its annual progress reports concerning Turkey that Turkey will not be in position to fully implement the (European) acquis relating to Transport chapter if these restrictions are not lifted.

She pointed out that “reunification is obviously expected to give an end to this discriminatory practise which distorts the application of the principle of fair and free competition in shipping trade within the EU and also restricts free access of EU shipping companies or ships to cargoes and ocean trades”.

“We strongly support the reunification initiatives by the UN and from my side we are ready to provide technical assistance to insure that the acquis on maritime transport will be effectively implemented over the entire territory of Cyprus” she said.

The EU official said that with 32% of the world fleet owned by Europeans and 19% of vessels that are EU flagged we cannot afford to be split with national interest in mind.

“That is my second message to you today. We absolutely need to work as Europe if we want to promote a strong voice of shipping worldwide, because even a country as strong as Cyprus in shipping it is still weaker that the entire 27 member states of the EU if they talk with one voice” she said.

Meanwhile, referring to her visit to one οφ the schools in Limassol that it is part of the program “Adopt a ship”, she congratulated the Cyprus Chamber of Shipping for promoting it.

“I promise I will try to promote it outside of Cyprus and it was actually striking that there were 18 kids in the room and 5 of them said that they want to go into shipping,” she concluded.

In his address, President of the Cyprus Chamber, Themis Papadopoulos, made particular reference to the lifting of the Turkish Embargo on Cyprus ships, within the framework of the recent discussions at European level, pertaining to the possible ’revision’ of the current Customs Union between the European Union and Turkey, stating that the lifting of the Turkish Embargo will give a strong impetus in further developing the entire Cyprus Maritime Cluster.

In addition, Papadopoulos expressed the satisfaction of the Cyprus Shipping Industry with regard to the Government’s decision to proceed with the creation of a Deputy Ministry of Shipping and urged the political parties to urgently approve the relevant bill, which has already been submitted in the Parliament.