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It is both a great honour
and a privilege to address the opening of the Maritime Cyprus Conference.
At the outset, I would like to
express my sincere appreciation to the Organizers of the event: the Deputy
Ministry of Shipping, the Cyprus Shipping Chamber and the Cyprus Union of
Shipowners.
At the same time, I also wish
to extend a warm welcome to all of you, and in particular the renowned
delegates of the international maritime and shipping industry.
Your massive presence
validates, yet again, that Maritime Cyprus which was held for the first time
in 1989 has grown into a Conference of international prestige and
recognition, providing a forum in which hundreds of eminent executives and
personalities of the maritime industry exchange views on specialized issues
of interest and concern of the global shipping industry.
It also provides the
opportunity to the participants to become familiar with the strong
maritime tradition of Cyprus and its dynamic maritime cluster.
Having referred to Cyprus’
shipping, I wish to stress that we feel very proud of our achievements, which
have placed our small country in a privileged position on the world’s
shipping map.
We have established a
competitive and modern international shipping centre, ranked highly globally
both as regards ship registries and third-party ship-management.
In parallel, around 300
shipping companies are based in Cyprus covering the full range of shipping –
related activities, whilst in the past decade we have witnessed a three-fold
increase in the number of companies registered under our tonnage tax system,
namely: from 95 to 285 at present.
Nonetheless, what I feel
obliged to stress is that, despite its impressive achievements, Cyprus
Shipping would have held an even higher international ranking if the illegal
restrictive measures imposed by Turkey since 1987 were abolished.
The said restrictive measures,
not only adversely affect our interests, but those of the European Union as
well, since it prevents the application of fundamental rights and free
competition in maritime trade with the European Union.
Not to mention that they
constitute a conventional obligation of Turkey vis-á-vis the
European Union.
Recognizing the importance of
shipping, its invaluable contribution to our economy and its dynamic
potential, in 2018 we upgraded the maritime administration’s status from
a department within a Ministry to a Deputy Ministry.
A decision aimed not only at
establishing an organisational structure that could respond immediately
and efficiently to unpredictable challenges, but would also allow, through
reforms, digitalisation and minimising bureaucracy to further strengthen the
attractiveness of an already thriving sector.
To this end, last October we
launched a new long-term strategy for shipping, called: “SEA Change 2030”: A
Strategy which contains 35 actions with a specific timeframe of
implementation, categorized under three main pillars - Sustainable,
Extrovert, and Adaptable- based on our vision for Cyprus to:
→ Further advance its role
in the international shipping environment;
→ Enhance our
attractiveness as a maritime centre of sustainable growth and excellence;
→ Strengthen safety and
security levels on Cyprus’ flag ships;
→ Provide rewards and
incentives for “Greening” investments;
→ Intensify the presence
of the Maritime Offices network of the Republic of Cyprus abroad,
especially in the Far East; and, of course, to:
→ Upgrade
the services provided by the Maritime Administration, so as to be
able to provide a more flexible, effective and customer-oriented
service.
To this end, we are in the
process of establishing a one-stop-shipping centre framework, through:
(a) The establishment of
the legal framework of the Maritime Entity; and,
(b) The digital transformation
of the Shipping Deputy Ministry, which will optimize the Ministry’s business
processes and maximize its operational efficiency.
Our policies are not only
limited to strengthening the attractiveness of the Cyprus’ Registry and its
relevant services, but are extended to a comprehensive and holistic
development of our shipping cluster.
In this regard:
→ Recently we established
an autonomous Admiralty Court, while we are in the process to finalising the
legal and procedural framework for arbitration and mediation on maritime
disputes.
→ We are providing green
tax incentives to shipowners and operators, encouraging and supporting ships
registered under the Cyprus registry to use alternative fuels, such as
biofuels and hydrogen.
→ We are also offering funding
tools and programs to encourage research and innovation, supporting the
shipping industry to effectively respond to the digital and green
transformation challenge.
To this end, we are also
funding together with the EU, the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute: A
Centre of Excellence in Marine and Maritime Research, Innovation, and
Technology Development.
→ We have launched a
number of campaigns and initiatives aiming to raise awareness to young
generations of the career potentials and opportunities offered by the
shipping sector.
As I have stated earlier, since
the international geopolitical environment is fluid and unpredictable, we
need to effectively respond to crises unfolding, such as the one we are
currently facing following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
What I wish to convey in the
strongest manner is that, being also victims of the Turkish invasion, we
immediately and without hesitation agreed to the adoption of targeted
sanctions vis-à-vis Russia in an effort to reverse its actions and return to
dialogue.
I spoke of targeted sanctions,
since their scope and aim should be:
On the one hand their impact
should not become greater on EU member-states on specific vital sectors of
our economies, rather than on Russia against which they are directed; and,
On the other hand, they should
exclude the possibility of establishing conditions of unfair competition
between EU member-states and third countries which could exploit gaps,
inconsistencies or misinterpretations in specific provisions of the
sanctions.
And these principles should be
applied in all adopted sanctions, including, of course, European shipping
which has a decisive role to play as regards the connection and seamless
trade supply, not only of the European Union itself but globally.
That is why we remain firm in
our position that maintaining to the maximum extent possible the
competitiveness of European shipping flags remains of utmost importance.
As a maritime nation, we are
fully aware that we are much stronger not on our own, but as part of dynamic
and forward-looking collaborations.
That is why, asides being
grateful to all of you for your presence, we fully appreciate the excellent
co-operation we have established with the International Maritime
Organisation, as well as with the EU, and we are honoured to have the IMO’s
Secretary – General and the EU Commissioner for Transport with us
today.
In this respect, I wish to
assure you Mr Lim that Cyprus will continue to actively and constructively
participate in the future evolution of the Organisation, including on
implementing new strategies, such as improving maritime safety and
environmental protection.
As I also wish to assure you
Mrs Valean that Cyprus will continue its positive contribution in the
formulation of the EU legislative framework in order to ensure that shipping
is safe, environmentally sustainable, competitive, as well as an integral
part to our efforts of achieving energy independence and carbon neutral
economy.
I would like to once more thank
you for your presence at the Maritime Cyprus Conference, particularly those
who have joined us from abroad, and to wish for every success in the
deliberations that are to follow the next days, which I have no doubt will
prove to be fruitful and productive.
(RM/NG/IK)
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