Cyprus an important international logistics center

Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Antonis Paschalides has said that Cyprus’ strategic geographic position, transportation connectivity and broad range of top-end facilities, give the island maximum advantage as a logistics and transhipment hub in the region.

Addressing the opening of the International Federation of Warehousing Logistics Associations’ IFWLA Convention 2009, which takes place in the coastal town of Limassol, the Minister said that Cyprus has a bright future ahead as an international logistics centre in the eastern Mediterranean.

The Minister went on to say that Cyprus grants access to trade routes linking Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

“Indicatively, some 100 international shipping lines include Cyprus in their regular schedules to and from the five continents of the world, while the Cyprus Ship Registry is today classified as the 10th largest merchant fleet in the world”, he continued.

The Minister noted that aiming at the expansion of Cyprus’ role as transhipment and logistics hub, the state has invested heavily in upgrading ports, airports and road networks.

He referred to a new multi-million port development programme, which is being implemented, aiming to increase the capacity and to improve the facilities in the island’s purpose built container terminals.

Moreover, the Minister of Commerce said that the state has upgraded and expanded the Pafos International Airport, while the new Larnaka International Airport is expected to be operational by November this year.

“All these prove a clear fact, that Cyprus sees a bright future ahead as an international logistics centre in the eastern Mediterranean”, he concluded.

The IFWLA conference is attended by professionals and union members from many countries of the world.