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* The current economic turmoil has touched everyone on the island. However, it’s not all doom and gloom
By Ambassador Kirsten Geelan. Royal Danish Embassy, Nicosia
When faced with an economic downturn and challenges, you have to maintain an outward looking perspective, to engage, innovate and modernise. To trade and to form partnerships.
This is why the Danish Embassy in Cyprus is organising a shipping conference in cooperation with the Cyprus Shipping Chamber and a visiting delegation from the Danish Marine Group. We want to send the message that the vibrant shipping sector in Cyprus generating growth and employment opportunities is interesting for Danish companies.
The conference is entitled Operational Efficiency by Technology and will take place on April 18 at the Carob Mill in Limassol.
The Danish shipping industry has a long history of close cooperation with Cyprus and the event underlines that the shipping industry remains a key sector in the Cypriot economy. I am particular pleased with the timing of the conference and the participation of a number of Danish companies underlining the resilience of the Cypriot economy and its continued ability to attract foreign interest.
Advantages in vessel performance as well as energy and operational effectiveness are important elements for the shipping sector, and a crucial parameter for operating in a highly competitive market. We hope that our conference can contribute with information on how to deal with these challenges presently and onwards.
Shipping is a Danish stronghold and Danish companies and the expertise and knowhow, they represent remain at the forefront of the most advanced segments of the global shipping industry. The importance of Danish shipping is best illustrated by the fact that the fleet operated by Danish shipping companies transports approximately 10% of all globally traded goods.
In Cyprus, shipping contributes over 5% of the GDP for ship management and 7% of the GDP for ship owning while employing 4,500 people. I see the potential for further growth”.
Denmark has more than 400 islands and like Cyprus is a seafaring nation hosting two of the largest merchant fleets in the world. We may be small in size and population but that is exactly why we have maintained an open economy and outward looking perspective.
