Deputy Minister for Shipping Marina Hadjimanolis paid a visit to New York from April 3 to 5, as part of efforts to promote Cypriot shipping, according to an announcement released on Monday.

On April 4, she was among the keynote speakers at the 3rd Capital Link Cyprus Business Forum, held in cooperation with the Cyprus Shipowners’ Association and supported by the Deputy Ministry of Shipping and Invest Cyprus.

In her address, Hadjimanolis presented the advantages of the Cyprus ship registry and broader shipping cluster, while outlining the investment opportunities available to shipping companies setting up operations on the island.

She pointed to the competitiveness of the Cypriot tonnage tax system and referred to a series of actions undertaken by the Deputy Ministry over the past two years, which, she said, had contributed to an 18 per cent increase in the Cyprus registry over the past sixteen months, alongside a 15 per cent rise in companies registered under the tonnage tax regime.

The forum’s main speaker was the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides.

While in New York, the Deputy Minister met with shipowners from companies based in the United States, as well as with executives from firms operating in Asia and Europe.

Discussions focused on the potential registration of fleet vessels under the Cyprus flag and the possible inclusion of operations within the tonnage tax system.

According to the Deputy Ministry, companies expressed strong interest in exploring collaboration.

Hadjimanolis also took part in a special event at the New York Stock Exchange on April 4, held in honour of Cyprus and organised in cooperation with NYSE-listed shipping company Safe Bulkers Inc.

The event marked a symbolic moment for Cyprus on the international stage, with President Christodoulides ringing the closing bell of the NYSE.