A total of 78 Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot entrepreneurs, participating in 39 bi-communal business teams, are joining forces to compete for a total prize fund of €500,000.
The prize money is offered by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, founder and owner of the easy family of brands, and Founder and Chairman of the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation. The awards will be granted to nine business teams distinguished for their cooperation, innovation, and vigour.
According to a press release by the Foundation, for the 16th consecutive year, “the Stelios Bi-Communal Awards for Business Co-operation in Cyprus reaffirm their pivotal role in strengthening bi-communal collaboration on the island by creating business opportunities and encouraging shared growth and peaceful coexistence.”
Prize fund of half a million euros
The nine-winning bi-communal business teams will compete for a total prize fund of €500,000, allocated as follows:
- The Gold Award will amount to €150,000, with €75,000 awarded to each entrepreneur in the two-member team.
- Two teams will receive the Silver Award, with a total allocation of €200,000. Each Silver Award-winning team will receive €100,000, with €50,000 awarded to each entrepreneur.
- Six teams will receive the Bronze Award, with a total allocation of €150,000. Each team will receive €25,000, with €12,500 awarded to each entrepreneur.
The power of collaboration
Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou emphasises that participation in the Bi-Communal Awards demonstrates that entrepreneurship can serve as a catalyst for meaningful cooperation and trust between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.
“Each joint business initiative represents not only an economic investment but also an important step towards strengthening mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence on the island, demonstrating in practice that collaboration can overcome divisions and create a more sustainable shared future for Cyprus,” said the Foundation.
Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou will present the cash prizes to the winners at a ceremony to be held on Monday, 8 June at 11am, at the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation headquarters, 5 Markou Drakou Street, Nicosia, in the presence of the President Nikos Christodoulides.
€5.3m in total awards
With this year’s awards included, the Stelios Bi-Communal Awards for Business Co-operation, established as one of the longest-running institutions of bi-communal cooperation in Cyprus, will have given a total value of €5,300,000 in awards.
About the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation
The Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, a non-profit organisation, is dedicated to supporting charitable activities in the countries where Sir Stelios and his family have lived and worked: Cyprus, Greece, the UK, Ireland, Monaco, and France.
In Cyprus, the Foundation’s notable initiatives include the Bi-Communal Business Cooperation Awards and the Youth Entrepreneurship Awards, both offering financial support to winners. In addition, the "Food from the Heart" initiative provides food to thousands facing economic hardship. The Foundation also extends financial aid to vulnerable groups, those impacted by major disasters, charitable organisations, and students through scholarships for university-level studies.
