Canary Islands 22/03/2018.- The Canary Islands Special Zone (ZEC) yesterday presented its tax advantages for the bunkering sector under the economic promotion brand Why Tenerife? The event is made up of the Tenerife Council, Port Authority, Chamber of Commerce and the Free Trade Zone, within the framework of the IBIA Africa Bunkering Conference, one of the most representative events of the industry, organised by Puertos de Tenerife in collaboration with IBIA (International Bunkering Industry Association).
This is the first time that the IBIA meeting has been held in the Canary Islands, and the opportunity was taken to promote the islands as a hub for three continents: America, Europe and Africa. During the meeting, the bunkering – supply and refuelling of ships – sector was addressed with the aim of outlining its future strategy and detailing the new regulations.
The Canary Islands offers itself as a link in maritime traffic with Africa
The official opening of the event was attended by the Agency Director of the Consortium of the Canary Islands Special Zone (ZEC), Olga Martín, who agreed to define bunkering as a “strategic sector” that can “consolidate the role of the Islands as a hub in the Mid-Atlantic” and promote other activities, such as international trade, tourism and logistics.
For his part, the commercial director of Puertos de Tenerife, Airam Díaz stressed that this is a strategic sector for the Canary Islands, which is in the middle of the routes to Africa, Europe and America”. The representative of the Port Authority of Tenerife pointed out the key role played by the energy debate and the implementation of natural gas in the objective of reducing emissions. 2020 and 2025 are the coming milestones on the path of international maritime transport towards more sustainable and cleaner activity.
For his part, the President of the IBIA, Justin Murphy, reaffirmed the sector’s commitment to “an increasingly cleaner industry and a less polluted world”, while highlighting the conditions in Tenerife. “It is a dynamic port, with interesting growth and future prospects,” he added. Yesterday’s conference was channelled by Canary Island institutions to publicize the advantages that the island offers to the sector.