Sir Stelios Increases Prize Fund for Bi-Communal Business Awards to €500,000

Entrepreneurship as a Bridge for Peace and Growth Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou increases the total prize fund to €500,000
Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, Founder and Owner of the easy family of brands (www.easy.com & www.easyHistory.info), and Founder and Chairman of the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation (https://steliosfoundation.com.cy), reaffirms for the 16th consecutive year his steadfast commitment to supporting co-operation between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. On 4 June 2026, he will once again honour bi-communal entrepreneurship, increasing the total prize fund to €500,000, to be awarded to 18 Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot entrepreneurs.
For the second consecutive year, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou has proceeded with a further increase in the prize money, providing tangible support to the nine-winning bi-communal business teams, each consisting of two members. This financial support creates the conditions for reinvestment, growth and the further strengthening of their business activities across both communities.
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.
Participation in the Awards
Applications for the Stelios Bi-Communal Awards may be submitted from Thursday, 8 January 2026, until Thursday, 30 April 2026. Interested teams may apply through the website of the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, www.steliosfoundation.com.cy. After downloading and completing the application form, it should be submitted via email to Mr Marios Missirlis at marios.missirlis@stelios.com.
It is important to clarify that, according to the terms of the Awards, the competition is open to Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot entrepreneurs whose business has an annual turnover of at least €10,000 and employs at least one additional person besides the owner. Supporting documentation demonstrating joint business activity in both communities must also be submitted. Previous winners and applicants from earlier years are also eligible to apply.
Award Ceremony on 4 June 2026
The winners of the Stelios Bi-Communal Awards for Business Co-operation will be announced by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou on Thursday, 4 June 2026. The Award Ceremony will take place at the Head Offices of the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, located at 5 Markou Drakou Street, Nicosia.
Referring to the institution of the Bi-Communal Awards, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou underlines that entrepreneurship has the power to bring people together and to build bridges where divisions once prevailed. For the second consecutive year, he notes, the Awards have been further strengthened, with the total prize fund reaching half a million euros, offering the winning teams the opportunity to support their businesses and to continue their shared journey with stability and confidence.
At the same time, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou emphasises the importance of co-operation, dialogue and shared responsibility for the future of Cyprus. The Bi-Communal Awards, he notes as their initiator and creator, go beyond the scope of financial recognition and express a profound belief in co-existence, in people, and in the power of collective effort, contributing to a Cyprus with vision and perspective one that invests in peace.
€5,300,000 and 16 Years of Bi-Communal Co-operation
The Stelios Bi-Communal Awards, recognised as one of the longest-running and most meaningful institutions promoting bi-communal co-operation in Cyprus, mark 16 years in 2026. The total value of the Awards, including this year’s prize fund of €500,000, now amounts to €5,300,000.
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.