The support of the House of Representatives and the State to Cypriot shipping was expressed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Deputy Minister of Shipping, stating that our shipping industry plays a leading role and must remain competitive.
In a statement at the 33rd General Assembly of the Cyprus Chamber of Shipping (CCC), Anita Demetriou said that "Cyprus can proudly declare that it holds the position it deserves and of course it will try to further strengthen its position and presence in the maritime scene".
He also congratulated the KNE for the work it has done over the years, noting that "it has strengthened positions, it has faced difficulties and without ignoring the challenges that we have to manage collectively, especially in view of an evolving military conflict, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but also all the challenges that Europe and of course the whole world will have to deal with as a consequence".
"Cyprus will continue to invest and the House of Representatives will stand by both the Chamber of Commerce and the Deputy Ministry of Shipping to support all efforts and on a collective level so that we can really have the level that our maritime presence in Cyprus deserves, but also to strengthen trade and other relations and activities that we need so much," he added.
For his part, Vassilis Demetriades said that today we are celebrating 33 years of life for the Cyprus Chamber of Shipping, "33 years intertwined with the successes of Cyprus Shipping".
It has been proven through these years, he continued, that the close cooperation and common focus and direction between the private and public sectors has brought very positive results for Cypriot shipping, which he described as a success story.
The Deputy Minister of Shipping stressed that "we are all working together to strengthen both the Cypriot flag and the presence of foreign shipping companies in Cyprus" and that "Cyprus plays a leading role, both within the EU and the International Maritime Organisation, participating with constructive proposals to highlight the need for shipping to remain competitive and sustainable".
In this direction, he added, "through the strategic vision of the government, which we have adopted since last year, we, together with the Cyprus Chamber of Shipping, are committed to implement and shape a Cyprus shipping industry that is resistant to crises and maintains its competitiveness".
Moreover, in his statements, the General Director of the Cyprus Chamber of Shipping, Thomas Kazakos, said that the physical presence of both the Speaker of the Parliament and the Deputy Minister of Shipping - on behalf of the President of the Republic - as well as other state officials, "gives a clear message of support to the industry, which is perhaps the most internationalised that the Cypriot economy has".
"I think they are sending the right messages that the support will be all-party, as a matter of national economy and we are glad to have had the opportunity, once again, to present the current issues," he added.
He did not express hope that the very positive course that our shipping industry has taken over the past decades will continue and that "with the further development of the one-way service that is expected to be followed at the Deputy Ministry of Shipping, we will be able to highlight even more our Cypriot shipping, which as we often say, navigates and deservedly travels our Cyprus abroad".
Asked to comment on the challenges, Mr.Kazakos noted that "shipping by nature struggles with the elements of the sea which are always unstable", indicating at the same time the close cooperation with the Deputy Ministry and the parties of the Parliament, "which gives the best message to shipping investors that shipping is not a matter of politics, it is a matter of national economy".
In relation to the increases in oil prices and how these have affected the industry, the DG of the CSE said that "both during the pandemic and now, with the war situation in Ukraine, very good efforts are being made to at least relieve the impact on Cypriot shipping, so that not only Cypriot shipping but also global shipping can continue the social and commercial work it is doing."
Asked about the issue of carbonisation of shipping, he stressed that "shipping is certainly the least polluting transport industry, but even in its small footprint, it is to the benefit of the industry itself to become even better at reducing pollutants, but with the right policies both at EU and IMO level".
"It is for the benefit of the shipping industry and the global economy in general, so that shipping can go to the 4th industrial level which is, gradually, the complete reduction of pollutants from ships," concluded Thomas Kazakos in his statement.
Source: CNA
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