Cyprus shipping committed to diversity says Hadjimanoli

The Deputy Minister of Shipping, Marina Hadjimanoli said Cyprus was committed to attracting young people to the maritime profession as well as more women as part of its effort to enhance diversity.

On the sidelines of the conference, Hadjimanoli met the Deputy Secretary of Transport of the Philippines, Elmer Sarmiento, who is responsible for maritime matters. There are significant numbers of Philippines nationals working on Cyprus-flagged ships.

During the meeting, they discussed issues of common interest and agreed to strengthen bilateral relations within the framework of the agreement signed by the two countries regarding merchant shipping, a statement said. This agreement signifies a step forward in enhancing cooperation and mutual support between Cyprus and the Philippines in the realm of maritime transport.

Hadjimanoli also had a bilateral meeting with the Director General of the European Maritime Safety Organisation, Maja Kostelac. Cyprus’ strong support for the work of the Organisation was acknowledged. They discussed the framework of the technical, operational, and advisory support provided to the member states of the EU, highlighting the collaborative efforts to ensure maritime safety and environmental protection within the European maritime sector.

The Deputy Minister of Shipping also had the opportunity to engage in discussions with the President of the World Maritime University (WMU) regarding actions related to education in the maritime field. This meeting reflected the importance Cyprus placed on maritime education and training as foundational elements for the development of a skilled and knowledgeable maritime workforce, the statement said.

Hadjimanoli, in addition, discussed with the Minister of Transport of Ghana, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, issues related to the Ministerial Summit on Oceans that Cyprus is organising in April. This summit, which will see the participation of Commonwealth countries, is a part Cyprus’ initiative in addressing global maritime and ocean challenges.