Stelios Bi-Communal Business Cooperation Awards - A recognised institution dedicated to fostering lasting peace on the island

Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, Founder and Owner of the easy family of (www.easy.com & www.easyHistory.info) and Founder and President of the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation (www.steliosfoundation.com.cy), is once again awarding the Stelios Bi-Communal Business Cooperation Awards. This year, the total prize amount has been increased to €410,000, supporting 20 Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot entrepreneurs.

Now in their 15th year, the Stelios Bi-Communal Awards have become a landmark institution in Cyprus. With the addition of €410,000 this year, the total prize money awarded since the program's inception has reached €4.8 million.

The Bi-Communal Business Cooperation Awards competition focuses exclusively on business collaborations between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. A key innovation this year is the structure of the awards:

Ten winning bi-communal business teams will share a total of €410,000, distributed as follows:

•    Gold Award: €100,000 (€50,000 per entrepreneur - member of the bi-communal team).
•    Two Silver Awards: €50,000 each (€25,000 per entrepreneur - member of the bi-communal team)
•    Seven Bronze Awards: €30,000 each (€15,000 per entrepreneur - member of the bi-communal team)

Applications for the Stelios Bi-Communal Awards will be accepted from Thursday, January 2, 2025, through Friday, February 28, 2025. Interested teams should visit the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation website (www.steliosfoundation.com.cy) to access and download the application form, which must then be submitted via email to [email protected].
Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must be Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot business owners whose ventures have an annual turnover of at least €10,000 and employ at least one staff member in addition to the owner.

Applicants must also provide evidence of a joint venture operating within both communities. Previous winners and candidates of the Stelios Awards are welcome to apply again, provided they meet all criteria.

The winners will be announced by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou in April 2025. The award ceremony will take place at the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation Headquarters on Markou Drakou Street 5, Nicosia.

Commenting on the Awards, Sir Stelios stated: "Economic cooperation between the two communities in Cyprus is fundamental for building mutual understanding and trust, ultimately contributing to lasting peace on the island. As we celebrate 15 years of the Bi-Communal Business Cooperation Awards, I am pleased to see how warmly both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots have embraced them. We remain committed to supporting joint initiatives and creating opportunities for new collaborations that promote social and economic development in Cyprus.”.

About the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation

The Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, a non-profit organisation, 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.