Vassilios Demetriades is the Founder and Owner of VISIONDO Advisory Ltd, providing strategic advisory and consultancy services on global and EU regulatory, policy, and governance challenges. He currently serves as Global Ambassador of MINTRA, Principal Advisor on EU Regulatory Policy & Government Affairs at HEMEXPO, and President of the Cyprus International Businesses Association (CIBA). Through these roles, he supports public and private stakeholders in navigating complex regulatory environments, advancing sustainable growth, and shaping policy outcomes at European and international level.
He has previously served as Chief Strategy Officer of UW Group and as Director of Blue Economy, Shipping and Yachting at the Cyprus Investment Hub. He also remains actively engaged with the international maritime, blue economy, and innovation ecosystems through board-level, advisory, and ambassadorial capacities.
Vassilios served as Shipping Deputy Minister to the President of the Republic of Cyprus from July 2020 to February 2023. During his tenure, the strategic vision for Cyprus Shipping, “SEA Change 2030,” was formulated, promoting an extroverted, forward-looking approach and a new philosophy and working structure within the Shipping Deputy Ministry (SDM). He initiated and delivered several sustainable and transformative actions, including the establishment of a maritime passenger link between Cyprus and Greece, the formulation of Cyprus’ Maritime Spatial Plan, and the setting of framework conditions for the digital transformation of the SDM.
At global and EU level, Vassilios demonstrated leadership in effectively responding to major crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. He took charge of key initiatives to enable safe crew changes worldwide, formulated and implemented a national vaccination plan covering over 40,000 seafarers, and facilitated fast-track procedures for seafarers affected by the war in Ukraine to open bank accounts and access their salaries. He also advanced initiatives at global and regional level by proposing an Agenda for the Sustainable Use of the Oceans within the Commonwealth and by promoting maritime safety in the Mediterranean through a proposal for a harmonised ship inspection regime. Particular emphasis was placed on engaging the young generation, fostering a culture for seafaring, maritime and blue studies through innovative and interactive campaigns and initiatives.
Prior to his ministerial appointment, Vassilios served as a Policy Officer at the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE) of the European Commission for five years. In this role, he coordinated the EU maritime transport strategy and the EU’s external maritime transport relations, promoting the interests of the EU shipping industry at bilateral and multilateral level with major trading partners such as the United States, China, India, Japan, Brazil and Iran. He was also involved in the formulation and coordination of the European Sustainable Shipping Forum. Earlier, he served the European Commission as Member of Cabinet of Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou, contributing to the formulation, communication and implementation of EU policies on education and vocational training.
Vassilios has also served the Cyprus Public Administration as Head of the EU Affairs Unit at the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, where he formulated Cyprus’ national positions to the EU on transport, telecommunications, shipping and integrated maritime policy. He was responsible for the overall coordination of Cyprus’ first Presidency of the Council of the EU (second half of 2012) in these areas.
From Cyprus’ accession to the EU in 2004 until the end of 2008, Vassilios served as the first Maritime Counsellor of Cyprus to the European Union, representing the country in the fields of maritime transport, intermodal transport and networks, EU Integrated Maritime Policy, EU Space Policy and Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS).
Vassilios regularly shares his expertise on the Blue Economy, shipping and yachting through public lectures, articles, keynote speeches, and by moderating high-level meetings and conferences at global, European and national level.
He holds a BSc in Business Economics and an MSc in Management Science from the University of Surrey.
Άρθρο στην Ετήσια Συλλεκτική Έκδοση της εφημερίδας "Ο Φιλελεύθερος" Η Κύπρος έχει καταφέρει τα τελευταία χρόνια να διατηρήσει τον ρόλο της ως περιφερειακό επιχειρηματικό κέντρο, προσελκύοντας διεθνείς επιχειρήσεις από…
Interview in "Fast Forward" in the framework of the Global Startup Competition Unicorn Pitches Limassol As part of the global startup competition Unicorn Pitches Limassol, which this year brings together…
[gallery size="large" ids="1614,1613,1615"] Keynote Address - GreenMED Project (co-funded by the EU) final event at the National Technical University of Athens Ladies and gentlemen, colleagues and friends, It is…
Addressing BusinessEurope Council of Presidents Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a privilege to address you today at a moment when Europe’s maritime sector stands at a historic crossroads. We…
Μια γνήσια, αληθινή και χωρίς φίλτρα κουβέντα με την Φρύνη Σόλωνος για όλα... ✅ Kύπρος, Πολιτική, Κοινωνία, Παιδεία, Οικονομία και ο Cyprus International Businesses Association ✅ Ναυτιλία, Γαλάζια Οικονομία και…
Vassilios Demetriades, President of the Cyprus International Businesses Association (CIBA), explains to Economy Today the importance of institutionalizing the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) screening mechanism for the attractiveness and institutional…
The new President of the Cyprus International Businesses Association (CIBA), Vasilis Demetriades, speaks to Politis Newspaper about the present and future on international businesses in Cyprus! ***“We need a holistic…
🔵 On Sunday 8 June 2025, I had the pleasure and the privilege to moderate two plenary sessions in the framework of the Blue Economy Finance Forum held in Monaco.…
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https://youth.europa.eu
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