Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades said the shipping sector is playing a key role in navigating the island to economic recovery. He also said: “It is my personal view shipping can act as a catalyst in the stability and further development of the Eastern Mediterranean region.”
Addressing the Cyprus Shipping Chamber (CSC) in Nicosia on 5 February Anastasiades said that despite the international adverse economic conditions and the financial difficulties Cyprus faced, the shipping sector had managed to maintain its competitiveness thanks to the combined efforts of the public and private sectors which have contributed to “the impressive development of the Cyprus shipping industry".
He said the contribution of the CSC was invaluable, for through its work and activity it has managed to maintain shipping as the lifeline of the economy.
The government, he said, acknowledged now, more than ever, the important role the shipping sector played in the economy. Adding, “at
the same time, the government was well aware of the fact the local shipping sector operates in a continuously evolving, highly competitive global environment, which required stability, an essential ingredient for long term planning and investment".
“For these reasons, my government is determined to introduce the necessary mechanisms to protect this important sector, as well as to develop and enhance it further,” said Anastasiades, reiterating the state’s intention to “continue to place priority on shipping, and to assure you that the co-operation which exists between the government and the Cyprus Shipping Chamber will not only continue, but will be enhanced".
With all sides seemingly in recent months working more closely to unite the divided island, Anastasiades said the CSC event this year came at a time when a positive momentum had been created, both in terms of “our continuous efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem [the divided island], as well as the developments in the exploration and exploitation of our natural resources”.
“A viable and functional solution to the Cyprus problem will inevitably lead to the lifting of Turkish restrictions on Cypriot ships. We will continue working tirelessly towards this end,” the President vowed.
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