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By Andrey Smirnov
Managing Director, Interros International Investments
I'm glad to announce that our company is once again going to sponsor the coming Cyprus-Russia Gala party on September 14, 2103. We've been doing it for the fifth time already out of 7 Galas of such format held in the gardens of the Presidential Palace. This year, it is under the auspices of the First Lady, Mrs Andri Anastasiades.
Our full involvement into 5 concerts which proved to be amazingly successful is a very good result. The events got highest appraisal of the public and press. The house was always full. And long before the set date, many business people together with civil officials, were interested when the next Gala would be staged. Quite naturally, this Gala fiesta has become a traditional and annual cultural event of two friendly, close nations – Russians and Cypriots. It has demonstrated common ethical, humane and social guiding lines.
The social value of the event is of course primarily important for our company and clearly explains our dedication to it. This strategy in our activities goes hand in hand with Interros Group, which is well known in Russia as one of the pioneers of social programs in big businesses.
The participation of the Group in the construction of the mountain ski resort together with the competition facilities for the future Winter Olympic Games in Sochi next February, numerous social and educational programs of support for capable students in the most recognizable higher educational establishments, support and promotion programs for small but very creative museums in far away places of Russia, together with being one of the main sponsors of the biggest and the most famous museum of the world – The Hermitage – these are only some from a long list of social activities of the Group.
Our company also considers corporate responsibility as a fundamental principal of the work on the island. We are devoted to it and try to support our position with various activities we have been engaged over 15 years here. In the past, Interros joined the charity program “Voices of Orthodox Russia”, launched by the International Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Christian Nations. This cultural program included the concerts by leading Russian choirs in Paphos, Larnaca, Nicosia, Limassol and Kykkos Monastery.
The Group was a general sponsor of the project on construction of the Church in Tala Village. To this effect, in 2011 Mr. Vladimir Potanin, the President of Interros Group, participated in the official ceremony of laying the first stone to the foundation of the Jesus Christ Church in Tala, which was opened to the public in December 2012.
Several times, the Company has sponsored the Russia-Cyprus Festival, which has become a tradition and is held annually for the strengthening and development of Russian-Cyprus cultural relations.
Our participation in 5 Gala parties comes in a form of financial support of Radiomarathon Fund to which the proceeds from all concerts went directly. The money has already been used for children with special needs and problems of development.
Some of the children with poor sight and hearing were participants in one of the concerts and showed their skills and talents in the art of music. We were happy to evidence that. The coming Gala I hope would also help to support children, let some of them develop abilities in different spheres of their life: education, leisure activities, physical competence, hobbies. Such assistance might help them feel at ease in their grown up life.
Our position of corporate citizenship hasn't changed under the present situation of severe financial crisis we are living through these days in Cyprus.
With substantial cuts of all costs for social needs and limited resources for humanitarian programs our readiness to continue to assist the least wealthy groups of people, I guess, would find appreciation and support in the Cypriot society. Such charitable events like the annual Gala party could pave a way for other businesses in Cyprus to help the nation in various possible ways to overcome difficulties of the moment. There is a quotation by Henry Ford to this point: "A business that makes only money is a poor kind of business." Businesses must demonstrate stronger commitment to issues such as social responsibility during the hard times in life of the society during crisis. We are trying to do that.
Gala parties held before were always organized in such a way that two friendly nations could send their artists and performed their programs together. At different times the audience could enjoy famous opera stars from Russia and Cyprus, folk ensembles of both countries, orchestra teams and pop singers from Moscow, well known Greek musicians.
The coming Gala Party also tries to combine the best participants from two counties who will share strong emotions of friendship, brotherhood and mutual respect to each other on the stage and the coming audience I'm sure will take part with their own donations and enjoy the concert as they always did.
