The government will continue supporting shipping industry, said Friday Minister of Communication and Works Erato Kozakou – Markoullis.
The Minister, who paid Friday a visit to a number of shipping companies established and operating in Limassol, upon an invitation of the Cyprus Shipping Chamber, expressed satisfaction with the infrastructure and the activities of the companies, noting the contribution of shipping industry to the Cyprus economy.
She recalled that Cyprus ranks first worldwide in ship management, she said that shipping industry is a field in which the government attributes great importance.
Pointing out that there are still some problems remaining to be solved in that field, Markoullis said that Cyprus is a very attractive center for all those companies.
The Minister noted that Cyprus could attract more companies given the existing infrastructure on the island, Cyprus’ climate as well as the newly adopted tax system.
Meanwhile, the Cyprus Shipping Chamber, notes in a press release that the aim of the Minister’s visit was to provide her with the opportunity to get a personal inside view on the huge shipping infrastructure which has developed over the last forty years in Cyprus, especially in the ship-owning and ship-management sectors, in which Cyprus is considered to be one of the largest shipping centres in the world.
The press release says that following her visit to the shipping companies, the Minister attended a luncheon with the members of the Chamber’s Board of Directors, during which she discussed current issues that affect Cyprus Shipping. Special reference was made to the need for the immediate lifting of the Turkish embargo on Cyprus flag and Cyprus related ships, “something which will help to the further expansion of the Cyprus fleet which currently enjoys the tenth place internationally and third place in the European Union”.
The Cyprus Shipping Chamber has 144 shipping companies as members, and as it is well known, the total number of gainfully employed persons by these companies ashore is 4,500, and approximately 55,000 seafarers of different nationalities are employed onboard vessels controlled or managed by them.
