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It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to this evening's dinner at the Presidential Palace which is organised within the framework of the "Maritime Cyprus 2023" Conference. A conference, which has established itself as an important institution, both in the Cypriot and international maritime scene. Earlier today, we had the official opening of the working part of the conference and it was with great satisfaction that I noted the high participation, level, training and prestige of the speakers. Allow me, therefore, before I say anything else, to warmly congratulate the organisers, the Deputy Ministry of Shipping, the Cyprus Shipowners' Association and the Cyprus Chamber of Shipping, for the whole organisation and the innovative ideas they have introduced, which, among other things, enhance the prestige of the conference.
At the same time, the participation of all of you in the Conference is a strong indication of support and confidence in Cypriot shipping, while at the same time it is an obligation for all of us to work towards further strengthening and ensuring a sustainable development of the shipping industry. I would like to thank you in particular and express the gratitude of the State and myself personally for the long-standing support you have provided to the efforts to strengthen the Cypriot registry and Cypriot shipping in general.
Shipping, as an international industry, is a changing industry with many specificities and is inextricably linked to global, political and economic developments. In this very context, the challenges that the industry faces over time are complex and unpredictable. Green and digital transformation, the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine, cybersecurity and the lack of trained staff are just some of the current challenges, in addition to the difficulties, for almost three years, that emerged during the coronavirus pandemic, which were unprecedented for all of us.
However, it is my strong belief that global challenges such as those experienced by shipping require collective approaches and international solutions. It is precisely in this way, through this perspective, that we approach the relationship with all of you, and we are confident that with your decisive contribution we will be able to formulate those policies and actions that will address the challenges we face and, by extension, ensure the sustainable development of shipping.
Climate change and the protection of the marine environment are particularly sensitive issues that concern not only Cyprus, which is an island nation with a tradition in the maritime sector. We feel very strongly the duty and responsibility to contribute constructively, effectively and responsibly to the collective efforts being made for the transition to green shipping. I should note, however, that while any ambitious aspirations are welcome and we generally welcome them, they should at the same time be realistic and feasible, bearing in mind of course that safety should be a non-negotiable condition in whatever is decided.
Equally important is also to ensure a level playing field by establishing and uniformly applying regulations and the legislative framework for the operation of the shipping industry in general. For this reason, as the Republic of Cyprus, we have long supported the work of the International Maritime Organization as the competent body for all regulatory issues related to international shipping and we fully support its role as the main international forum for maritime issues affecting the industry worldwide.
Having said that, I would like to welcome to Cyprus, it is a great honour to have with us, the Secretary General of the IMO Mr Lim as well as the elected Secretary General Mr Arsenio Dominguez, who officially takes up his duties in 2024.
The framework of services and advantages provided by the Cyprus Registry, such as the stable and competitive tonnage tax system, the zero registration fees, the 24-hour service 7 days a week, the specialised knowledge and experience of the human resources in our country, the high safety standards, the efficiency and flexibility, as well as the reputation of a dominant state, member of the European Union, fully meet the needs and the operational framework of a modern shipping company. However, the enemy of the good is the best and in this context, further simplification and improvement of the services offered is a high priority and is included in our objectives. In this direction, actions are underway, which were also initiated by the previous administration for the development of the One-Stop-Shipping Centre, through the implementation of the Limited Liability Shipping Company legislative framework, as well as the digitalisation of all services of the Ministry of Shipping by 2024.
The stable fiscal and business-friendly environment, expertise and customer-centric approach in both the private and public sectors, despite the challenges we face, are the driving force of Cyprus' maritime cluster. The recent double upgrade of our economy and the restoration of Cyprus' credit rating to investment grade by Moody's after 12 years translates into prospects and further opportunities, strengthening the framework for attracting even more quality investment and job creation. It is the non-negotiable policy of this Government to continue to shield the economy and create all those conditions for businesses that choose Cyprus to invest, including all of you.
I wish you a productive conference and also a good and pleasant stay in Cyprus.
(RM/IS)
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Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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