Rome, Italy. Cyprus Shipping Deputy Minister Marina Hadjimanolis attended the gala dinner held alongside the ICS 2026 Shaping the Future of Shipping Summit in Rome, as Cyprus continued efforts to strengthen its role in international maritime discussions. The event took place during her three-day working visit from June 22 to 24.
Summit gathering in Rome
The gala dinner was organised by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) in cooperation with Confitarma, the Italian Confederation of Shipowners. It brought together senior industry figures, government officials and maritime stakeholders at a time when the shipping sector is facing pressure from geopolitical tensions, regulatory changes and the energy transition.
According to the Shipping Deputy Ministry, Hadjimanolis attended the dinner with her associates. The ministry said the evening provided an opportunity to exchange views with industry leaders and reinforce cooperation within the global maritime community.
Focus on resilience and partnerships
The Rome summit, titled Shaping the Future of Shipping Summit 2026 – Forging Partnerships for Resilience, is part of a wider ICS series intended to bring governments, shipowners and maritime organisations closer together.
ICS said the summits are designed to break down barriers between maritime disciplines and encourage practical ideas about the future of the sector.
Cyprus participation and meetings
Hadjimanolis’ presence in Rome came as Cyprus seeks to maintain a visible role in regional and international shipping affairs. During her visit, she was scheduled to participate in a ministerial panel with the maritime ministers of Italy, Greece and Malta, and to hold bilateral meetings with officials and representatives of international maritime organisations.
These contacts were described as important for Cyprus, whose shipping sector remains one of the island’s most internationally connected industries. The summit’s focus on resilience also coincided with a period of disruption for global shipping, with maritime routes affected by conflict, security threats, changing trade patterns and pressure to speed up the sector’s green transition.
ICS leadership change
The Rome gathering also coincided with a leadership change at ICS. During its annual general meeting at Palazzo Valentini in Rome, the organisation’s board unanimously elected John Denholm CBE as chairman, succeeding Emanuele Grimaldi, who had served in the role since June 2022.
For Cyprus, the ICS connection carries additional significance because the organisation’s secretary general, Thomas A. Kazakos, previously served as director general of the Cyprus Shipping Chamber. ICS has said Kazakos previously led the chamber, Cyprus’ representative national member association at the organisation.
Reaction from the ministry
The Shipping Deputy Ministry congratulated ICS and Confitarma for hosting the event, saying such gatherings help strengthen dialogue and cooperation across the maritime sector.
