Thomas Cook India: "We will serve the whole of Europe from Cyprus" (pics)

Thomas Cook India, the leading travel company based in Mumbai and whose major shareholder is the global asset management giant and main shareholder of Eurobank S.A., Fairfax Financial Holding, which is settling in Cyprus, has entered the country and the European Union, where it hopes to expand its activities.

The formalisation of Thomas Cook India's arrival on the island was marked by the ceremony that took place on the afternoon of 15 Mayat the offices of Aeolos Cyprus Travel, in Nicosia, in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Kostas Koumis, the CEO of Eurobank S.A., Fokion Karavias, the CEO of Hellenic Bank, Michalis Louis, the Chairman of Invest Cyprus, Evgenios Evgeniou, the President & Group Head, Global Business Travel, Thomas Cook (India), Indiver Rastogi and the President & CEO, Fairfax Digital, Sanjay Tugnait.

Costas Koumis: Let's join forces and promote Cyprus in the large Indian market

The ribbon cutting ceremony for the inauguration of TCI EURO-Travel Circle International Cyprus Ltd, which recently established a base in Cyprus, bringing one of India's largest travel agencies to the island, was peformed by Kostas Koumis, who wished the company all the best and the new plans it is developing, stating that it will have his support.

"I'm sure it has already been realised that you have chosen a multilingual and multicultural country, with a very friendly business environment."

"Cyprus has been a popular country for years and it is very important for you to know that we can act as a stopover for your customers who want to travel to other stops, via Cyprus," Koumis told the Thomas Cook India executives.

At the same time, the Deputy Minister of Tourism expressed the country's willingness "to join forces with you to promote our country in the large Indian market and of course to decide on the joint actions that the two markets need to take."

Fokion Karavias: The promise to the President of the Republic and the first step taken

Eurobank S.A. CEO Fokion Karavias, who was described by Thomas Cook India executives as the architect of the company's descent into Cyprus, spoke of a great day, as he said "we achieved one of our promises to the President of the Republic."

More speceficallly, as he explained, "three years ago, together with Michalis Louis, we visited the President of the Republic to discuss the possibility of an expansion of Eurobank in Cyprus, through the acquisition of Hellenic Bank."

"Michalis (Louis) had promised the President that our goal was not only to build the largest and strongest bank in Cyprus," Karavias indicated, "but also to become a catalyst for attracting investment to Cyprus and opening new markets for the country."

"We are both very excited, because this is the first step of a long journey, which we hope will follow," said the CEO of Eurobank AE.

Indiver Rastogi: We will serve the whole of Europe from Cyprus

On his part, PPresident & Group Head, Global Business Travel, Thomas Cook (India), Indiver Rastogi, said that when he joined Thomas Cook (India) 17 years ago, the company wanted to expand globally.

"We had a presence in Dubai, the US, India, but Europe was where we didn't have a presence."

"Our arrival in Cyprus took place in a short period of time," he noted, adding that "we will serve the whole of Europe from Cyprus."

The Indian side also stated that this is an "important milestone in relations between the two countries" and that "both parties have something to gain."

Thomas Cook India, a leading travel company based in Mumbai, offers a wide range of services, including foreign exchange services, corporate travel, MICE (Meetings-Incentives Congresses/Conferences-Exhibitions) and leisure travel.

(Source: InBusinessNews)