Page 19: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (July 2018)

Natasa Pilides, Cyprus Deputy Minister of Ship- ping, has held this newly created political post for only three months, but already she has big plans to facilitate the growth of her country’s stature in world maritime circles. In Athens at Posidonia we sat with Pilides to discuss her plans for the develop- ment of Cyprus’ blue economy.

BY GREG TRAUTHWEIN

While dubbed “deputy” minister, make no mis- collective effort led by government and includ- take that Natasa Pilides is in charge, reporting ing commercial and recreational sectors, as well directly to Nicos Anastasiades, the president of as building the blue economy, too.

Cyprus who asked her to take on the challenge. “We’re really trying to promote our ‘blue “I was director general of the Cyprus Investment growth,’ encouraging students to take up mari-

Promotion Agency – ‘Invest Cyprus’ – which is time careers,” a plan which includes the recent responsible for the promotion of Cyprus and to establishment of three new maritime academies make Cyprus more business friendly,” said Pi- to train cadets, with ? rst graduates coming in lides. “Shipping was in our mandate as one of 2019.

the main sectors of focus.” After that post she be- “As a Deputy Ministry we monitor and ap- come the Deputy Minister, a cabinet position to prove the schools and the courses, but we also allow shipping to voice opinions and proposals give scholarships and ? nancial support to ca- directly to the president. “That’s a really positive dets,” said Pilides. “Beyond the three maritime development that is something that shipping has academies, all of the universities – ? ve private wanted for a very long time,” a development that and three public in Cyprus – nearly all have mar- was voted in unanimously. “This shows the com- itime focused curriculum.” mitment of everyone in Cyprus to the (shipping) But as anyone knows, shipping is a multifac- sector. Shipping is an important sector (to the eted endeavor with many arms, and bringing the country), and (the position) was attractive to me ? nance to bear has also been critical to building because Cyprus is a good performer in shipping; the path toward a bigger maritime economy in we’re proud of the cluster that is building up and Cyprus.

it’s a great opportunity to expand it.” “What really helped is that more and more banks in Cyprus have decided to expand into

The Path Ahead shipping,” said Pilides. “All of the major banks

Pilides’ plate is full, as she is responsible for are involved and committed, recruiting teams all matters maritime: strategy and policy for from abroad for training. We also have a rela- shipping sector, as well as the integrated mari- tively new (since 2013) package of legislation time policy, and within that spatial planning for to do with investment funds. We’ve had our ? rst maritime “which extends beyond the scope of shipping funds registered in Cyprus recently, and just shipping. The goal is to keep it as focused as there is interest for many more. There is also possible, to have a very clear mandate and effec- plans to introduce some more legislation that tive implementation.” will make the framework even more favorable

But part of the job in creating a new path is for investment funds, and hopefully that will be understanding exactly where you are. another area of growth.” “Shipping and ship management activities contributes about 7% to the economy in terms The Blue Economy of gross domestic product (GDP), and it employs While shipping and ship management are core about 5,000 people in Cyprus onshore and about tenants of any maritime economy, the buzzword 55,000 seafarers, but beyond that we know the of today is ‘Blue Economy’ as true growth counts impact of maritime on the economy is actually on independent and collaborative growth among quite a bit more, because the amazing thing about various sectors that touch maritime.

shipping in Cyprus is it is growing so quickly.” For Cyprus, ideally located in the Mediterra-

The word in Cyprus on maritime is ‘growth,’ a nean Sea, a key starting point is tourism both on www.marinelink.com 19

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