Stelios Award networking event helps break down barriers
AFTER a few months of press adverts and enquiries, the Stelios Award for Business Cooperation in Cyprus moved to the next level last Monday, when entrepreneurs from both sides of the Green Line attended a networking event hosted by British High Commissioner Peter Millett.
The opening formalities included contributions from the political leaderships of both communities. Presidential Commissioner George Iacovou called on the entrepreneurs to “grasp the opportunity, because it is important to show the way”, adding that “the unity of this country will be partly manifested through a united economy”.
In a personal message read out by the British High Commissioner, Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat congratulated Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou – who prefers to be known as Stelios – for his initiative “to reward those who show the willingness to co-operate and create business ventures together” in their common homeland.
In his own message to the event – screened from a DVD – Stelios spoke directly to the entrepreneurs, stressing his belief that getting people who live in the island to work and co-operate with each other in a business sense will “create a good understanding between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities”.
The ground-breaking nature of the event was evident from the very beginning. For all the rhetoric, this was no “group hug” exercise by people who already shared the same views and were comfortable with each other.
Guests initially grouped together with people they could speak to in their own language, or with those they already knew from their own business sector. Gradually, you could see people deciding to take the plunge and make the most of the opportunity to talk to others they probably could not meet easily – if at all. After 45 minutes, the dividing lines had already started to blur.
One of the most energetic networkers was Ercan, who with his partner produces kitchen cabinets and decorations in the north.
“We’re trying to find ways of using our waste products, for example sawdust and melamine off-cuts. We want to find a partner who will help us recycle that waste. My partner heard about the award scheme and this event, so this is an opportunity to find solutions for our waste,” he said. “This is the first time we have thought of turning to the south. The main thing is to come together from both sides and do something together.”
Antonis and his wife have a company in Limassol which trades tea wholesale, and their idea is to find a partner from the north to open retail outlets for tea. “We learned about the award through the newspapers,” he said. “We are pleased to be here and be able to meet people from both communities, and maybe establish some good business together. We have never had contact with people from the north before, and we think this is a great opportunity to do so.”
Mustafa from the north formed an import-export company with Andreas from the south in 2005. He was more sceptical about the event.
“We’ve come a long way before Sir Stelios had his idea, but I am very much in favour of the initiative. I appreciate his noble gesture, but personally I think this will stay at the level of a social event,” he said. “I hope I’m mistaken, but I haven’t seen many people meeting up with their counterparts to start something new.”
He thought that psychological barriers will play a major role in deciding how successful the initiative is.
“There is a certain reluctance among Greek Cypriot businessmen towards Turkish products – they are scared that people they know might judge them for buying or selling them. This is the main barrier we face. As a Turkish Cypriot community we have overcome some of these things better than the Greek Cypriots – we are not ashamed to buy Greek or Greek Cypriot products. I don’t know why, but I’m sure it is the case. The Greek Cypriots have to overcome this, because in future there is no room for such thinking.”
Mustafa’s partner Andreas was convinced that it all comes down to one word: trust.
“When it comes to talking business with someone, I don’t even look at the nationality or background of the person I’m talking to – it’s totally irrelevant. If you are going to be my customer, it doesn’t matter what nationality you are – you are my customer”, he said.
Christina, a psychologist agreed that building trust is crucial.
“I think people need to see that this can work out. The people of this island do want to get along, they do want to live and work together,” she said. “They have done it before, they can do it again. We need people to see that we can do it again, and maybe then the politics will change, rather than waiting for politics to change the situation.”
Idil Seytanoglu, who was asked by Stelios to help co-ordinate the event in the north, was convinced that the award initiative could make a difference, but this would not happen overnight.: “One of the main reasons I agreed to help with the initiative is that it runs over four years – it’s not just a one-off,” she said. “Also, it’s based on Sir Stelios’ own money, so there are no political connotations to the funds the award-winners will receive, which is very important.”
Marie-Louise Bang, Director of the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, said that “the fact that out of the original 130 enquiries received before Monday’s event, 120 people turned up is extremely encouraging, and goes to show that clearly there is a readiness for co-operation.”
In Bang’s view, there is no difference in approach on the two sides of the Green Line: “An entrepreneur is an entrepreneur, when all is said and done. Talking to people on both sides, there is a very similar drive and passion, and an almost tangible belief in their business ideas, which is very exciting.”
[SIDEBAR]
Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou created the Stelios Award for Business Cooperation in Cyprus some three months ago, and has pledged to give away up to €1 million of his own money over the next four years to business people from the north and south of the island who co-operate on new ventures.
Up to five winning teams per year will each be presented a personal cheque for €50,000 per team by Haji-Ioannou himself in a ceremony in Nicosia at the end of 2009, and each year thereafter for up to four years, depending on the calibre of applicants. The award scheme is being run by the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation.
