India-Cyprus first Joint Maritime Committee meeting held in Limassol
Synopsis
Eight years after signing a bilateral merchant shipping agreement, India and Cyprus have finally activated their Joint Maritime Committee — meeting for the first time in Limassol. With a Cyprus shipping minister's India visit and a Mumbai Maritime Business Forum slated for November 2026, the two countries are moving from diplomatic intent to structured commercial engagement.
Key Takeaways
India and Cyprus held the first-ever Joint Maritime Committee (JMC) meeting in Limassol on 29 September 2025 .
The JMC was established under the 2017 bilateral Agreement on Merchant Shipping .
Talks covered maritime education , green shipping , ship repair and recycling , seafarer welfare , and IMO cooperation .
The Indian delegation was co-led by Joint Secretary Venkatesapathy S and included High Commissioner Manish and DG-level official Deependra Singh Bisen .
A Maritime Business Forum is planned in Mumbai in November 2026 to explore investment and business partnerships.
The meeting is part of the India-Cyprus Joint Action Plan backed by PM Modi and President Nikos Christodoulides .
India and Cyprus convened the inaugural session of their Joint Maritime Committee (JMC) in Limassol on 29 September 2025, marking a significant step in bilateral maritime engagement under the 2017 bilateral Agreement on Merchant Shipping. The meeting was co-chaired by Venkatesapathy S, Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) at India's Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and Theodoulos Mesimeris, Acting Permanent Secretary at the Shipping Deputy Ministry of Cyprus, according to the High Commission of India in Nicosia.
Key Developments at the JMC
The committee's agenda spanned a broad range of maritime priorities, including maritime education and training, investment opportunities, exchange of policies and best practices, and coordinated positions on matters before the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). Delegates also explored prospects in maritime services, shipping finance, ship repair and recycling, seafarer training and welfare, and green shipping.
India's High Commissioner to Cyprus, Manish, and Deputy Director General of the Directorate General of Maritime Administration, Deependra Singh Bisen, were part of the Indian delegation, which engaged with Cypriot maritime authorities and industry from 28 September to 1 October.
Meetings with Cypriot Maritime Bodies
The delegation held discussions with the Cyprus Shipping Chamber, leading shipping and maritime companies, the Cyprus Ports Authority, and the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute. The delegation also visited the Port of Limassol, one of the Eastern Mediterranean's key commercial hubs, to assess infrastructure and investment potential firsthand.
Upcoming Engagements and Mumbai Forum
Preparations were discussed for the forthcoming visit of the Shipping Deputy Minister of Cyprus to India, accompanied by a maritime business delegation. Separately, a Maritime Business Forum is planned in Mumbai in November 2026 to explore business partnerships and investment opportunities between the two nations.
The High Commission noted that the JMC meeting forms part of the India-Cyprus Joint Action Plan and reflects the commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides to deepen bilateral cooperation. The two countries have stepped up high-level engagements in recent weeks, with this maritime dialogue representing one of the more substantive outcomes of that renewed momentum.
Strategic Context
Cyprus occupies a strategically important position in global shipping — it is one of the world's top ship-management centres, with a fleet registered under its flag ranking among the largest in the European Union. For India, which is expanding its maritime footprint through initiatives such as Sagarmala and its push for green shipping corridors, engagement with a well-established maritime jurisdiction like Cyprus offers both regulatory learning and commercial opportunity. This is the first formal institutional mechanism the two countries have activated under their eight-year-old shipping agreement, suggesting that earlier diplomatic groundwork is now translating into structured cooperation.
Point of View
But the real measure will be whether the November 2026 Mumbai forum produces binding investment commitments or remains a networking event. Cyprus's role as a top ship-management centre and flag state gives India genuine regulatory and commercial upside — particularly on green shipping standards and seafarer certification — if the institutional momentum is sustained beyond this inaugural meeting.
NationPress
4 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the India-Cyprus Joint Maritime Committee?
The India-Cyprus Joint Maritime Committee (JMC) is a bilateral institutional mechanism established under the 2017 Agreement on Merchant Shipping between the two countries. Its first meeting was held in Limassol on 29 September 2025 to discuss maritime cooperation across education, investment, green shipping, and IMO-related matters.
Where and when was the first JMC meeting held?
The first India-Cyprus JMC meeting was held in Limassol, Cyprus, on 29 September 2025. The High Commission of India in Nicosia announced the outcome on 3 October 2025.
What areas of cooperation were discussed at the Limassol meeting?
The meeting covered maritime education and training, shipping finance, ship repair and recycling, seafarer training and welfare, green shipping, investment opportunities, and coordination on IMO matters. Both sides also exchanged policies and strategies as best practices.
What upcoming events are planned following the JMC meeting?
The Shipping Deputy Minister of Cyprus is set to visit India with a maritime business delegation. Additionally, a Maritime Business Forum is planned in Mumbai in November 2026 to explore investment and business partnerships between the two countries.
How does this meeting fit into broader India-Cyprus relations?
The JMC meeting is part of the India-Cyprus Joint Action Plan and reflects the shared commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides to deepen bilateral ties. The two countries have been stepping up high-level engagements, with this maritime dialogue being one of the more substantive institutional outcomes of that process.
