Deputy Shipping Minister Marina Hadjimanolis visited Doha from February 4 to 6, in a move to strengthen maritime ties, according to an announcement released on Friday.
Invited by Qatar’s Minister of Transport, the visit provided an opportunity for key discussions on enhancing sustainable development and expanding maritime infrastructure”, with a focus on deepening cooperation between the two countries.
During her meetings, Hadjimanolis held talks with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani, Qatar’s Minister of Transport, where discussions centred on broadening collaboration across various aspects of the maritime sector.
Sustainable practices and the challenges facing the industry were key topics, as the Qatari Minister outlined his country’s advanced maritime infrastructure and the scope for further cooperation.
Hadjimanolis, in turn, emphasised Cyprus’ strong position in ship management and services, pointing to the extensive network of companies supporting the global maritime industry from Cyprus.
The announcement added that the minister repeated the Cypriot government’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations through strategic partnerships, with maritime affairs playing a central role.
The two sides also reaffirmed their cooperation within the International Maritime Organization (IMO), agreeing to intensify their joint efforts.
As part of her visit, Hadjimanolis attended the ‘Seatrade Maritime Qatar’ Conference at the invitation of the Qatari Minister.
The only EU Minister present, she joined key stakeholders, including the Secretary General of the IMO, in discussions that could shape future global maritime policies.
On the sidelines of the conference, Hadjimanolis met with the Saudi Arabian Deputy Minister of Transport, where the two agreed to advance maritime cooperation.
Talks are already underway to finalise a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise this partnership.
Separately, she also met with Fahad bin Saad Al-Qahtani, CEO of MILAHA Group, to explore potential collaboration in maritime innovation and sustainability.
She later visited the newly developed cruise terminal, where she was briefed on operations and the services provided to cruise tourism.
There, she underlined the importance of exchanging best practices with Qatar, aligning with Cyprus’ strategy for developing its cruise tourism sector.
The visit concluded with an event at the Embassy of Cyprus in Qatar, attended by the Cypriot expatriate community.
The announcement concluded by saying that throughout her engagements, Hadjimanolis was accompanied by Andreas Nicolaides, the ambassador of Cyprus to Qatar.