Applications Open for Bi-Communal Entrepreneurship Award

In Cyprus, the acceptance of applications for the Stelios Bi-Communal Improvement Awards 2024 has begun to support and promote bi-communal entrepreneurship. The total prize fund for this year will be 200,000 euros.

Applications for the award can be submitted from January 29, 2024, to March 15, 2024. The award ceremony will take place on April 18.

The "Bi-Communal Entrepreneurship Encouragement" award was established in Cyprus in 2009 and is aimed at Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot businesses that have reached an institutional structure.

The organizer of the award is the Stelios Charitable Foundation. Its founder, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, the creator and owner of the Easy Group brands, has been presenting the award for 14 years to promote lasting peace in Cyprus.

This year, he will award a cash prize of 10,000 euros to each of the 20 entrepreneurs from 10 teams, consisting of two local businesses. Thus, the total amount of the prize this year will be 200,000 euros, and the total amount paid out over the years will reach four million 390,000 euros.

Interested teams can apply by clicking on the appropriate link on the Stelios Charitable Foundation website (www.steliosfoundation.com.cy) and uploading the application form. The completed form must be sent by email to [email protected].

A Cypriot-Turkish and Cypriot-Greek business partner wishing to apply must have an annual turnover of at least ten thousand euros and have at least one employee other than themselves. The application must be accompanied by documents confirming cooperation between the two communities.

Candidates or winners of previous years' Stelios Awards held in Cyprus may also reapply for the award this year provided they meet the financial criteria.

The award ceremony for inter-communal cooperation will take place on April 18, 2024, at the headquarters of the Stelios Charitable Foundation, located at 5 Markou Drakou Street, Nicosia.

"Cooperation between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots develops and strengthens relations of trust between the two communities. Joint activities developed with our support contribute to the social and economic development of the island, as well as to the creation of partnerships and cooperatives," said Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou."