Founder and president of the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, awarded 10 bi-communal teams, consisting of 10 Greek Cypriot and 10 Turkish Cypriot business people, who stood out in the ‘Stelios Bi-Communal Awards for Business Co-operation 2023’. Each team member wins a cash prize of pound 10,000. According to a relevant announcement, at the award ceremony and announcement of the ten winning teams, which took place online on 21 March 2023, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou congratulated the winners via zoom. All business people who claimed the award, opinion leaders, and media representatives were invited to attend the online ceremony. In particular, 46 groups of Greek and Turkish Cypriots (92 participants in total) submitted their joint application to participate in the ‘Stelios Bi-Communal Awards for Business Co-operation 2023’. This year, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou offered 200,000 euros to the 10 best business proposals. It is worth noting that the total value of the Awards granted by the Stelios Foundation since 2009 now totals 4,190,000 euros (including this year’s 200,000 euros prize). Congratulating the winners and participants, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou stated that he is very happy “because, despite the adverse climate on the island, we received 92 applications, a very satisfactory number, given the current situation.” “The 20 awardees proved once again that there is the possibility of bi-community cooperation in Cyprus, which is made even easier by the new era of teams and zoom, as it reduces the need for unnecessary travel to a minimum. My congratulations to the 20 winners, who overcame many obstacles, and with their cooperation are promoting lasting peace on the island” he added. ‘The 20 awardees proved once again that there is the possibility of bi- communal cooperation in Cyprus, which is made even easier by the new era of teams and zoom, as it reduces the need for unnecessary travel to a minimum” he said. Haji-Ioannou expressed warm congratulations to the 20 winners, “who overcame all obstacles, contributing with their cooperation to the consolidation of lasting peace on the island”.
Source: Cyprus News Agency