Τhe Deputy Shipping Ministry new headquarters are likely to be at a building on Limassol’s Thalia street, across from Omonia avenue that was at an earlier stage used by Interorient Navigation, following a selection made by the Ministry of Finance. Talking to ‘’Entrepreneurial Limassol’’ Deputy Shipping Minister Natasa Pilides said negotiations were under way for the purchase of the building, as well as preparations for the construction work required for the building to accommodate the needs of the Deputy Ministry. Ms. Pilides added that final decisions are expected before the summer in order for the actual move to be made possible by December, "in a way that will solve the housing problem facing the ministry, currently housed in three high-cost rented buildings." At the same time, the objective is to have all ministry services and all 160 employees operating effectively under the same roof.
The pre-selected property is considered to be privileged, as in addition to its proximity to the port and to most of the shipping companies based in the area, it meets the space requirements of 4,000 sq. m. Moreover, as it essentially an office building, no extensive renovation work is required. The previous decision of the Council of Ministers to relocate the ministry to the building of former Co-op Bank on Gladstone street had to be put aside as the Hellenic Bank exercised its right and chose to keep the imposing building by buying it from the Cyprus Asset Management Company, which has been in charge of the assets of the Co-op Bank. In the wake of that plan faltering, the Ministry of Finance issued an open call for expression of interest for the purchase of a building. The Interorient building was selected from another two proposed, following an evaluation by the Department of Public Works.
