Stelios Bi-Communal Awards for Business Co-operation 2024 winners awarded €200,000

Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, founder and owner of the easy family of Brands and founder and president of the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation has awarded the 10 bicommunal teams (10 Greek Cypriot and 10 Turkish Cypriot entrepreneurs) that excelled in the 'Stelios Bi-Communal Awards for Business Co-operation 2024'.

As noted in a relevant press release, this year, 50% of the awardees, - five out of the ten winning teams, are receiving the prize for the first time, "which demonstrates the impressive interest of entrepreneurs in bicommunal cooperation."

"Thirty-four teams of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots (a total of 68 entrepreneurs from both communities) participated in the competition, submitting their joint applications for the "Stelios Bi-Communal Awards for Business Co-operation 2024”. Among the top 10 business proposals, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou offered a total amount of €200,000 (€10,000 for each member of the two-person team)," the press release continued.

The Awards Ceremony for the ten winning teams was held at the Central Offices of the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation on Markos Drakos Street in Nicosia on Thursday, 18 April and Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou congratulated the winners via Zoom.

The event was attended by all the entrepreneurs who competed for the award, members of the Board of Directors of the 'Stelios' Philanthropic Foundation, while representatives of the Media and television channels covered the awards.

Congratulating the winners and all participants in the competition, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou stated, "The participation and awarding of new business partnerships in this year's Bicommunal Awards, with a rate reaching 50%, confirms that the institution is embraced each year by a larger number of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. The new entries send an optimistic and hopeful message, as they strengthen trust between the two communities, contribute to economic prosperity, and consolidate lasting peace on the island."

The press release also underlined that the total value of the Bi-Communal Awards granted by the Stelios Foundation since 2009, including this year's amount, totals €4,390,000.

The winners of the Stelios Bi-Communal Awards for Business Co-operation 2024 are:

• Andreas Andreou – Emre Serdar - www.slimlineframe.com

Their company specializes in the construction of aluminum facades, doors, and windows, with their products being exported abroad.

• Christoforos Psyllidis - Burcu Mahmutoglu - www.divecypria.cy

They founded the Dive Cypria diving school, which provides diving training programs and organizes diving trips throughout Cyprus and the Red Sea.

• Steven Stavrou - Burak Doluay - https://socialtechlab.org/

They established the SocialTech Lab to utilize tools contributing to entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology, fostering a different culture of collaboration and communication.

• Eleni Hatzigianni - Cile Siambis www.instagram.com/karpasiaproducts

They developed a collaboration for the production of traditional Cypriot products from Karpasia, such as halloumi, honey, and maccun.

• Theodoros Christoforou - Arsen Angı - https://izmer.com/en/

The company they created is engaged in the construction and trade of marble, using raw materials from Cyprus, Turkey, Greece, India, and Italy.

• Agathoklis Agathokleous - Hasan Siber - https://coliveoil.com/

The company they established focuses on mass production of olive oil, from olive harvesting in the wider area of Larnaca.

• Kostakis Katsiaris - Osman Altunoglu www.facebook.com/cyprustraditionalchair

Their collaboration involves the construction of traditional Cypriot (tonen) chairs, which they export to the United Kingdom.

• Michalis Pantelidis - Arif Cebeci - http://www.mpviolins.com/

They combined their love for music, inspiration, and creation by engaging in the construction of handmade violins and the repair of antique violins.

• Nikolas Papageorgiou - Zerin Sarp - https://musicforcyprus.com

They created a unique online platform where one can search for and book musicians and bands for events throughout Cyprus.

• Michalis Konstantinou - Fezile Ozatach - https://mcoenterprises.net/

They combined their experience and expertise and are engaged in architectural design, focusing on kitchen decoration and aesthetics.