The newly established innovation network 'Gen Y' was unveiled at an event in London on Thursday evening, which is aimed at Cypriot expatriates and professionals connected to Cyprus who fall under the so-called 'Generation Y'.
The new network is the youth entrepreneurial arm of the non-profit organization Business Council of Cyprus. UKCEC, which for almost eight and a half years has been highlighting business opportunities between Cyprus and Britain and encouraging networking between British Cypriot entrepreneurs, investors, professionals, scientists, academics and artists.
The term Generation Y or 'millennials' describes those born between the early 1980s and the mid-1990s.
"The 'Gen Y' Network is being created to encourage and foster innovation, collaboration and entrepreneurship among the new generation of British Cypriot entrepreneurs and professionals, both in the UK and between the UK and Cyprus," UKCEC President Peter Droussiotis, who is the man behind the new initiative, told CNA.
"Members of 'Gen Y' will benefit from networking opportunities with people from a wide range of sectors, will have access to exclusive events organised will be able to take advantage of professional development opportunities such as career seminars, as well as mentoring opportunities from Council members who excel in their field," he added.
One of the co-founders of the Gen Y Network, Isabella Hadjisavva, told CYP that "the goal is to give the community the opportunity to accelerate towards the future by supporting young entrepreneurs and professionals to achieve their goals through the network."
She stressed that there is "a huge pool of Cypriot talent" in the UK, which for the time being has not been exploited as much as it could be.
The initiative was actively supported by the presence of Cyprus' Minister of Energy, Trade and Industry Natasha Pilidou and the High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus in the UK. Mrs. Pileidou gave a brief presentation of the Ministry's strategy for attracting companies, skilled workers and investments from third countries, which certainly includes the United Kingdom. The Minister made reference to the creation of a more competitive and modern business environment in Cyprus, including the creation of the Company Facilitation Unit for the registration of companies of foreign interests and the issuance of visas for so-called digital nomads.
The Minister made reference to the creation of a more competitive and modern business environment in Cyprus, including the creation of the Company Facilitation Unit for the registration of companies of foreign interests and the issuance of visas for so-called digital nomads.
Ms Pileidou also referred to the plans for greater use of renewable energy sources, as well as the National Strategic Framework for Research and Innovation, with the aim of making Cyprus a "dynamic and competitive economy driven by research, scientific excellence, innovation and technological development".
Combining this strategy with the new youth innovation community network, Ms Pileidou told CNA, "we believe that the diaspora has a huge role to play both in strengthening relations with all the countries where Cypriots are active and in boosting exports of services and products." UK because of the Cypriot community we have a very strong trade relationship. This needs to be strengthened with the new generation. Therefore the Gen Y initiative is seen as particularly important for the engagement of young Cypriots living in the UK and we hope to see a lot of joint initiatives with the Department in terms of new business, technology and innovation areas where there is certainly potential to partner with the new strategy to attract companies from outside the UK."
Asked to comment on whether the adjustment to the post-Brexit era has been quick, Ms Pileidou said that "from Cyprus' point of view it has been quite quick. There have certainly been some issues in exports such as some small episodes of delays that we had in the adjustment process, but they have been overcome because of the excellent cooperation with both our High Commission here and our Trade Centre. We are confident that now the situation has been normalized."
The event, at the headquarters of the law firm Mishcon de Reya, was also welcomed by the other founding members of the new Network, Elena Georgiou and Matthew Hill, while a number of younger and older professionals and businessmen from the community and beyond were present.
Source: CNA
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