Cyprus and Bahrain signed a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) on maritime cooperation, expanding ties across maritime safety, training, search and rescue and innovation following high-level talks in Manama on Sunday.

The agreement was signed during a bilateral meeting between Shipping Deputy Minister Marina Hadjimanolis and Bahrain’s Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa.

It covers a broad range of areas, including maritime safety and security, education and training, search and rescue, innovation, as well as the exchange of expertise and best practices.

The two sides also agreed that the signing should be followed by practical steps, including the creation of joint working groups to turn the agreement into specific areas of cooperation.

Hadjimanolis was accompanied at the meeting by Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Keve) president Stavros Stavrou and Cyprus’ ambassador to Bahrain, Andreas Eliades.

Her programme also included a bilateral meeting, requested by the Bahraini side, with Bahrain’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, where discussions moved beyond government-to-government cooperation to the commercial opportunities created by closer maritime ties.

The two sides reviewed bilateral economic and trade relations and identified further scope for cooperation, particularly through new partnerships and business opportunities in shipping services.

As part of the visit, Hadjimanolis also toured Khalifa Bin Salman Port, accompanied by Bahrain’s Undersecretary for Ports and Maritime Affairs Bader Hood Al Mahmood and other Bahraini officials.

During the visit, the CEO of APM Terminals Bahrain, which operates the port, presented an overview of its logistics services and cruise terminal, while briefing the Cypriot delegation on the port’s operations and future prospects.

The visit was followed by discussions with senior Bahraini officials on the future development of the port and the country’s wider maritime sector, adding a practical dimension to the cooperation being developed under the new agreement.

The Cyprus delegation also included Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI) chief executive Zacharias Siokouros, who held separate meetings with representatives from Bahrain’s government, business and academic communities.

Those contacts focused on potential cooperation in investment, research and innovation, while the visit also resulted in a separate memorandum of understanding between CMMI and Bahrain Polytechnic.

That agreement provides for cooperation in research, innovation and education, alongside the exchange of expertise and know-how between the two organisations.

Hadjimanolis’ visit, which took place from September 5 to 8, came at the invitation of her Bahraini counterpart and followed President Nikos Christodoulides’ official visit to the kingdom in January.

The Shipping Deputy Ministry said the trip was taking place during a particularly challenging period for the wider region, adding that Hadjimanolis’ presence conveyed a message of solidarity and support for Bahrain and underlined the importance Cyprus places on its relations with the country.

The latest agreements broaden that relationship further, with cooperation now extending from the two maritime administrations to shipping businesses, ports, research and education, while attention shifts towards turning the agreements into concrete projects.