Cooperation prospects between Cyprus and Italy in relation to the Blue Economy, through business and strategic synergies, were the focus of a Maritime Business Forum, that was held Friday under the auspices of the Deputy Ministry of Shipping, at the DP World Limassol passenger terminal, at the port of Limassol.
Ambassador of Italy, Antonella Cavallari, Deputy Minister of Shipping, Marina Hatzimanolis and EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, addressing the forum underlined the benefits the cooperation would have for the two countries and the EU more broadly.
The Forum took place at the initiative of the Embassy of Italy and in collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency, the Italian-Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), the Cyprus Shipping Chamber, Invest Cyprus, the Limassol Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Cyprus-Italian Business Association.
In her speech, Italian Ambassador Antonella Cavallari said that the sea has always been the route that unites Italy and Cyprus.
“For centuries, ships, goods, people and ideas have travelled between our shores. Today, that same sea can become the engine of an even more ambitious economic partnership”.
The two countries, she pointed out, are two complementary strengths.
Cyprus, she said, “is one of the great hubs in international shipping: a leading flag and the world’s most important centre for third-party ship management. Italy is a global point of reference for shipbuilding, logistics, port, infrastructure and green maritime technologies”.
Our goal today, the Ambassador said, is to turn this complementarity into concrete project: new collaborations between companies, between ports and between port cities.
“A Forum built around three priorities, reflected in today’s sessions: sustainable ports increasingly integrated with their cities, in line with the EU green transition; good practices and high compliance standards in shipping management, supported by the right technologies to stay competitive; and international cooperation along strategic maritime corridors, starting with IMEC, to attract new investment in ports and terminals” the Ambassador stressed.
She referred to geopolitical tensions, noting that they have reshaped trade routes, Suez Canal transits are down by around 70% compared with 2023, as many ships have been diverted around the Cape of Good Hope. This, she added, makes resilient, diversified connections across the Mediterranean more strategic than ever.
“Corridors such as IMEC, which Italy has promoted from the outset, can give the Eastern Mediterranean, and Cyprus in particular, a central role in linking Europe, the Middle East and Asia” the Italian Ambassador said.
Meanwhile, in a video message, Commissioner Kadis said that bringing together public authorities, maritime stakeholders and businesses from both countries creates an opportunity to strengthen cooperation and explore new partnerships.
As a Cypriot and a European Commissioner for fisheries and oceans, he added, “I am glad to see Cyprus in Italy working side by side. Our countries share deep maritime traditions and an understanding of the sea’s importance for our economies, our communities and our future”.
“The themes of your Forum reflect this shared outlook. Sustainable ports, cleaner shipping, maritime connectivity and innovation can help build a competitive and resilient blue economy. Investment should go hand in hand with protecting the marine environment and creating opportunities for coastal and island communities” the Commissioner pointed out.
And this is the approach, he added, at the heart of the European Ocean Pact, “our holistic strategy for the sustainable management and preservation of our ocean adopted last year. It brings together ocean protection, economic competitiveness, maritime security and the well-being of people whose livelihoods depend on the sea”.
To support its implementation, the Commissioner noted, “we are preparing the European Ocean Act. It will aim to place all ocean related targets under one umbrella, strengthen ocean governance, reduce administrative burden and improve coordination between sectors through modernized maritime special planning. And this matters, because shipping fisheries aquaculture and offshore energy share the same marine space”.
Furthermore, he said that the European strategies for coastal communities and Islands adopted in June address, economic opportunities, climate resilience, and the conditions that make these regions attractive places to live and work.
“Better ocean knowledge is also essential for the sustainable management of the marine environment and for the preparedness of coastal areas to deal with extreme weather events”.
Kadis recalled that in this context, “just a few days ago, the European Union and Canada launched the International Ocean Eye Alliance to strengthen ocean observation and support the global ocean observation system. The alliance now brings together more than 30 countries, including Italy and Cyprus, with pledges of approximately pound 220 million, in funding and other resources”.
Alongside these initiatives, he said, the Commission adopted the EU port’s strategy and the EU industrial maritime strategy in March, with Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzicostas, leading the work on ports and maritime transport.
“These strategies seek to strengthen ports and maritime competitiveness, security and resilience, while supporting the clean and digital transition investment and skills” Kadis continued.
Your discussions, he told participants, on sustainable ports, maritime corridors, financing and skills relate directly to this wider European effort.
Italy and Cyprus, he stressed, can contribute by sharing experience and building partnerships across the Mediterranean.
“Turning these priorities into practical benefits requires cooperation across countries and sectors and forums, like this, bring European policies closer to the businesses and communities that will put these policies into practice” the Commissioner concluded.
In her address, Shipping Deputy Minister of the Republic of Cyprus, Marina Hadjimanolis said that the Forum itself reflects the excellent relations between Cyprus and Italy and our shared commitment to strengthening cooperation in one of the most strategic sectors of our economies.
Cyprus and Italy, she pointed out, are among the Mediterranean’s leading maritime nations, adding that both countries have developed strong maritime traditions, vibrant shipping communities and strategic port infrastructure that contribute significantly to European and global trade.
Today, the Deputy Minister said, maritime sector is navigating a period of profound transformation, decarbonisation, digitalisation and evolving supply chains are reshaping global transport and creating new demands on our industry.
At the same time, she added, recent geopolitical developments have highlighted the critical importance of maritime security and the uninterrupted flow of global trade.
“For countries such as Cyprus and Italy, the principle of freedom of navigation and respect for international law are of fundamental importance. In this environment, cooperation between like-minded maritime nations becomes more important than ever” Hadjimanolis stressed.
She pointed out that this spirit of cooperation was also reflected during the recent Tripartite Meeting of Cyprus, Greece, Malta with the participation of Italy, held in Limassol on 9 September 2026.
“The Mediterranean has always been a sea that connects continents, cultures and commerce. Cyprus and Italy have long been part of this shared maritime story, and today we have an opportunity to write its next chapter together” she went on to say.
Concluding, she urged everyone “to continue building on our strong political and economic ties, deepen cooperation between our maritime communities and work together to strengthen the competitiveness, resilience and sustainability of European shipping.”
The Forum was also addressed by President of the CCCI, Stavros Stavrou, who stressed that Cyprus and Italy can and must play an important role in the new reality shaped by geopolitical developments, changing global supply chains and increasing international competition.
The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he pointed out, firmly believes in the power of business diplomacy and in building bridges between business communities, adding that our role is to create the right conditions for businesses to meet, exchange know-how, identify opportunities and transform ideas into concrete business partnerships.
He also stressed that strengthening maritime cooperation between Cyprus and Italy can also act as a catalyst for broader economic cooperation between the two countries and that the vision pursued concerns a stronger Mediterranean, a more competitive European maritime sector and an even more dynamic business ecosystem between Cyprus and Italy.
Head of the European Commission Representation in Cyprus Panikos Pourgouridis pointed out in his address that closer cooperation between Cyprus and Italy can “contribute immensely to a maritime Europe that is more sustainable, decarbonized, digitalized and interconnected, creating opportunities across the value chain”.
Three panel discussions followed the welcome addresses focusing on port sustainability and the integration of port cities, good practices and compliance in maritime management and the promotion of international cooperation in maritime corridors and investments in ports and terminals.