For the 15th year, Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot business people embraced the bi-communal “Stelios Bi-Communal Business Cooperation Awards”, bidding for a tranche of 410,000 euros, which will go to the 10 best business proposals selected by Sir Stelios Hadjiyannou, Creator and Owner of the easy family of brands (more info here and here) and Founder and President of the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation.
This year, 96 Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot entrepreneurs (48 bilateral bi-communal groups), a number much higher than 2024, submitted their joint application to the bi-communal entrepreneurship awards competition, which this year again focuses exclusively on the entrepreneurial efforts of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.
The 10 winning bilateral bi-communal business teams will claim a total of €410,000, as follows:
- The Gold Winning Group will receive the sum of €100,000 (€50,000 for each entrepreneur member of the two-person team).
- Two teams will receive the Silver Prize of €50,000 each (€25,000 for each entrepreneur member of the two-person team).
- Seven teams will receive the Bronze Prize of €30,000 each (€15,000 for each entrepreneur-member of the two-person team).
Sir Stelios will present the cash prizes to the winners at a ceremony to be held on Friday, April 11, 2025, at 11am, at the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation Headquarters, 5 Markou Drakou Street, Nicosia. The Award Ceremony will be attended by President Nikos Christodoulides.
Since establishing the competition in 2009, up till the present, the total value of the Awards has amounted to €4,390,000, confirming the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation’s firm and long-standing commitment to promoting cooperation, mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots through entrepreneurship.
About the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation
The Stelios Philanthropic Foundation‘s aim is to give back to society, supporting various charitable activities in the countries where Stelios and his family have lived and worked: in Cyprus, Greece, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Monaco, France and the United Kingdom.
Important activities of the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation in Cyprus include: the Bi-communal Business Cooperation Awards and Youth Entrepreneurship Awards, with cash prizes awarded to winners; the “Food from the Heart” initiative to thousands facing adverse economic conditions; financial support for vulnerable groups and those affected by major disasters; financial assistance to charities; funding scholarships for young people to attend university.