Minister of Communications and Works Erato Kozakou – Marcoullis has assured that her ministry will keep up the hard work to further improve the status of the Cypriot flag, strengthen the domestic shipping industry and promote the interests of Cypriot shipping, not only in Europe but also worldwide.
Addressing an event entitled ''Maritime Day 2010” organised Sunday in Limassol by Cyprus Shipping Chamber, Marcoullis said, inter alia, that “commercial shipping is an area for which Cyprus feels really proud”.
He added that “the creation of modern Cypriot merchant shipping is a priceless achievement for Cyprus, with significant political and economic implications”.
“Our country, with a long maritime tradition, plays a key role in the international maritime scene, ranking third in the EU and tenth in the world, while it is a leading center of professional ship management for third parties in Europe”, she said.
She went on to say that “for a state the size of Cyprus it is truly an achievement that the Cypriot flag is flying in more than 1,000 seafaring vessels with a total capacity of 20 million passengers.”
“This alone, but also combined with the strong and active participation of Cyprus in international maritime affairs, has consolidated the Republic of Cyprus”, she noted.
Cyprus, she noted, has established itself as a quality shipping register, since beyond the effective implementation of international standards on safety and protection of the environment, the country is included in the White List of the Paris and Tokyo Memoranda of Understanding.
“Cyprus has also been removed from the List of Priority Control of the U.S. Coast Guard”, she said.
Moreover, she said that “the new tax framework which has been approved by the European Commission and is in force since 1/1/2010 is expected to greatly contribute to improving the competitiveness of the Cyprus shipping industry and creating an atmosphere of stability and attracting even more companies to be stationed in Cyprus”.
In conclusion, she said that “the Ministry will continue, in cooperation with the Cyprus Shipping Chamber and other Cypriot shipping bodies, the hard work to further improve the status of the Cypriot flag, strengthen the domestic shipping industry and promote the interests of Cypriot shipping, not only in Europe and worldwide too”.
