Our ambition is to open up the horizons of the sea and professional studies and opportunities for our young people. It is a happy coincidence that now, thanks to the right initiative of this administration, our country now has a Deputy Ministry of Shipping that is methodically opening up the prospects of the Blue Economy for Cyprus in a better way.
It is therefore with great pleasure and satisfaction that I am here with you to address today's award ceremony for the research competition "The Comparative Advantages of Cyprus Shipping in Relation to Competition - WE SAIL THE FLAG", which is under the auspices of the Deputy Ministry of Shipping and is an initiative of the "Supply Chain Management and Maritime Studies" Programme of the Limassol Branch of the Limassol Public School.
I welcome you here today, on a day of joy, as we will present the prizes to those who excelled, praise all those who participated, and realize together the value and prospects of maritime studies in a country that is destined to converse with the sea.
I would first like to congratulate all the children and teachers who participated in this competition. It is no coincidence that the competition was addressed to the children of high schools and Technical and Vocational Education and Training Schools of Limassol, since Limassol is one of the largest ship management centres in the world. More than 100 ship management companies operate there, as well as a multitude of companies from the wider maritime sector. Today, about 9,000 workers are employed in the shipping industry, the majority of whom are from Cyprus.
Despite all the challenges that the shipping sector has to face, due to the pandemic and the various war crises, it remains consistently one of the biggest contributors to the Cypriot economy and undoubtedly one of the biggest employers.
The development of the Blue Economy is one of the European Commission's priorities precisely because it offers the possibility of creating new jobs, providing an avenue for economic recovery. The knowledge and skills of the human resources employed in the sectors covered by the Blue Economy are one of the driving forces of the economies of the countries with access to the sea. When for the whole of Europe the Blue Economy is emerging as one of the most promising horizons, think how much more so for an island country like ours. When countries that are only bordered on one side or even one corner by the sea and are making so many efforts to open up to the sea and tap into the maritime economy, think how much more this applies to an island country like Cyprus, especially in the historical epicentre of seafaring that is the Mediterranean. Cyprus can become a model in this area as there is no doubt that the sea is an important source of wealth that is inextricably linked to the history of our island. For this reason, concerted efforts are being made in this direction and initiatives are being taken that favour the development of skills and the creation of jobs linked to the Blue Careers. On the occasion of his presence here with us, I would like once again to thank my colleague, Deputy Minister of Shipping Vassilis Demetriades, for our cooperation, but also to underline that within a relatively short period of time we have seen great and important results from the operation of a Deputy Ministry of Shipping, which has put our policy for the sea, shipping and the Blue Economy on a new basis, in a more structured and methodical effort.
One of the objectives of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth, and more specifically the Directorate of Secondary Technical and Vocational Education and Training, is to make a substantial contribution in this direction by offering programmes of study related to shipping, both at the level of secondary education, by offering the Branch of Maritime Professions at the A' Technical School of Limassol, and at the level of higher vocational education and training, by offering the programme "Supply Chain Management and Maritime Studies" at the Public School of Maritime Studies in Limassol. It is worth noting that, in the context of this effort, close cooperation has been developed with the Deputy Ministry of Shipping, particularly with regard to the development of the relevant curricula.
By the way, I cannot fail to underline the importance of the curriculum, which gives you the opportunity to open up professionally in the promising field of the sea. The "Supply Chain Management and Maritime Studies" programme of the MIEEK Public School offers you the opportunity to study for two years free of charge in your city. Shipping is an industry that is distinguished by its professionalism, its constant development, its good and so interesting professional climate, and the high remuneration it offers. It is an industry of which we can all feel proud for our Cyprus since, despite the global competition, it manages to make our flag fly in all the seas of the world.
To this great journey of our flag in the seas of the world, the competition "We sail the flag", i.e. "We sail with our flag" or "We set sail with our flag", sought to introduce these children to this great journey of our flag in the seas of the world. Together with the flag of Cypriot shipping we seek to open the horizons of the sea for our young people. There is no doubt that with your successes you honour your family and your school, but above all you honour yourselves. Continue the journey of learning, so that you can constantly improve and achieve your goals.
Finally, I would like to thank the initiators of this initiative, the MIEEKs, as well as the organisers of today's award ceremony. My special thanks also go to the donor of the competition, Salamis Cruises, for its kind sponsorship.
IP
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