The UK-Cyprus Enterprise Council (UKCEC), established last year with the aim of promoting economic and cultural activity between the UK and Cyprus, has been expanding the list of partners and developing its plans for the future.
A number of distinguished and influential people have been added to the Council’s ranks as Goodwill Ambassadors, while strategic partnerships have been established with several key Cypriot organisations.
More specifically, the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Cyprus Investment Promotion Agency (CIPA), the Cyprus Tourism Organisation and the Cyprus Stock Exchange have been named as the Council’s strategic partners, alongside EPISTEME – The Association of British Cypriot Professionals.
Furthermore, Mr Anastasios (Tasso) Paul Leventis, Chairman of the A G Leventis Foundation and a Director of the Leventis Group of International Companies, has been added as an ‘Honorary Patron’, in addition to founding patrons Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, Sir Christopher Pissarides and HE the Cyprus High Commissioner to the UK, Mr Euripides Evriviades.
Peter Droussiotis, Chairman of the Board, expressed his satisfaction with the progress that has been achieved in a relatively short time in shaping and positioning the Council as the “foremost” body of UK-based entrepreneurs, professional, academic and business people for the promotion of partnerships and bilateral trade between the UK and Cyprus.
“Our strategic partnerships with the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Cyprus Investment Promotion Agency, the Cyprus Tourism Organisation and the Cyprus Stock Exchange have enabled us to join forces with key Cypriot bodies which share our mission and agenda,” said Mr Droussiotis.
“I am also inspired by the calibre of the people we have secured as ‘Goodwill Ambassadors’ which means that we now have a very powerful network of high-profile people which will underpin our work and enhance the Council’s effectiveness, influence and prestige in this vitally important country,” he added.
Peter Droussiotis also drew attention to the Council’s new website, which aims to become an interactive tool which will enable UK and Cypriot businesses and entrepreneurs to share knowledge and information and to explore commercial alliances, bilateral trade and investment opportunities in both countries. On the website (ukcec.co.uk) one can find, inter alia, the names and titles of the Council’s Goodwill Ambassadors.
The Vice-Chairman of the Board, Stelio Stefanou OBE said that since the Council’s formation a dialogue has been initiated with a wide range of influential people in areas such as oil & gas, tourism and culture and education which are considered as key sectors for development.
The Enterprise Council’s board is planning several strategic events, including a launch event with strategic partners in London, a ‘Goodwill Ambassadors’ networking reception, ‘Focus on Tourism ‘and ‘Focus on Energy’ events, an ‘Investment Opportunities Forum’ and an Honorary Patrons’ reception.
“Our proposed launch event will be used to spread the word about Cyprus’s attraction as a place to invest,” said Mr Stefanou. “We have already detected that some interest is being shown in inward investment related to oil and gas. This is a good start but we will work with our partners, our network of ambassadors and other influential people in order to further develop other sectors such as tourism, education, services, the Arts and real estate which are the Council’s areas of strategic focus,” added the British Cypriot entrepreneur. As he concluded, “Cyprus is going through difficult times and at such times it is important that we do all we can to help, however small or large.”
The Council’s logo, created by M & C Saatchi, shows the fruits of the Cypriot olive tree and the British oak, and symbolises growing together through partnership and bilateral trade.