Cyprus Shipping Deputy Minister Promotes Island’s Ship Register in Japan, China and South Korea

Tokyo, Japan. Shipping Deputy Minister Marina Hadjimanolis carried out a series of high-level meetings and industry events in Japan, China and South Korea between October 13 and 29, aiming to reinforce Cyprus’ standing in three major Asian shipping markets. She promoted the Cypriot ship register and looked at possibilities for wider international cooperation.

Aims of the Asian tour

The programme combined bilateral talks with government officials, attendance at international shipping conferences, and discussions with shipowners, shipping companies and shipyards. The stated purpose was to present Cyprus as an international maritime centre and to draw more interest to its shipping registry.

Japan

In Japan, Hadjimanolis concentrated on widening the Cypriot presence in a market seen as holding considerable potential for cooperation. The Shipping Deputy Ministry held its first dedicated event in Tokyo, which drew over 120 representatives of Japan’s shipping and business communities.

She also took part in the fifth annual Capital Link Japan Maritime Forum, where strategic opportunities for cooperation were discussed involving the international shipping sector, Cyprus in particular, and the Japanese market.

During the stay, she held a bilateral meeting with Kenta Aoshima, Japan’s Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. She also had a number of contacts with leading figures from the Japanese shipping industry and shipbuilding sector.

China

A central element of the Chinese leg was her participation in the North Bund Forum in Shanghai, which came after a personal invitation from Transport Minister Liu Wei. Her attendance at the opening speeches underlined the Cypriot contribution to global maritime debate, at a time when preparations are under way for an official visit to China by the President of the Republic.

On the margins of the forum, Hadjimanolis met Liu to discuss ways of deepening maritime cooperation between Cyprus and China.

In Shanghai she also joined a ministerial panel at the 10th annual Capital Link International Shipping Forum – Pudong – Shanghai, and attended the official opening of Pudong International Shipping Week.