The deputy ministry of shipping wishes to promote joint initiatives with Greece, Deputy Minister Marina Hadjimanoli told the Ambassador of Greece Ioannis Papameletiou, on Friday.

According to official announcement, the Cyprus-Greece sea passenger connection was on the meeting agenda, with the minister emphasising its popularity and noting that since start-of-season, over 10,000 bookings had been made.

Hadjimanoli informed Papameletiou about the inclusion of routes from the Larnaca port resulting from increased demand and thanked all involved for the re-inauguration of the connection service after so many years’ hiatus.

There is excellent cooperation between the deputy ministry and Piraeus, locally and on an international level, through joint participation in international forums, particularly the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the minister said.

Speaking on the topic of IMO elections, Hadjimanoli noted that council membership is of national importance to Cyprus and thanked the Greek ambassador for his country’s ongoing support. Likewise, Cyprus traditionally supports Greece for ‘category A’ membership in the organisation’s executive organ, the deputy minister noted.

Finally, Hadjimanoli briefed Papameletiou on the “Maritime Cyprus 2023” Conference to be held on October 8-11, and of her intent to extend an invitation to Greece’s Minister of Shipping, Yiannis Plakiotakis.