Manama: In the presence of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Excellency Nikos Christodoulides, President of the Republic of Cyprus, Bahrain and Cyprus have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish Cyprus as an official partner for maritime and air freight services. The official signing took place during President Christodoulides' visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the MoU was signed by Abdullah bin Adel Fakhro, Bahrain's Minister of Industry and Commerce, and Michael Damianos, Cyprus' Minister of Energy and Commerce. Minister Fakhro emphasized the ongoing commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, particularly in the realms of global transit, shipping, and logistics services. Both countries are committed to enhancing cooperation to serve mutual interests and support sustainable economic development.
The Industry Minister highlighted that with Cyprus being granted partner status for maritime and air freight services, Cyprus-based companies can apply for official accreditation as authorized operators in Bahrain. These companies will benefit from several advantages that improve operational efficiency, expedite cargo movement, and reduce costs.
Minister Fakhro added that this initiative reflects Bahrain's commitment to expanding international partnerships, reinforcing its position as a regional and global hub for logistics and multimodal transport. Bahrain launched the Bahrain Global Sea-Air Hub in 2021, which connects Khalifa bin Salman Port and Bahrain International Airport, offering integrated logistics solutions to move goods faster and at lower costs, supporting Bahrain's strategic role in international trade.