The journey towards LCCI’s own premises

The first meetings of the Limassol Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) were held in the library room of the historic ENOSIS–ISOTIS Club and, on occasion, in the reception room of KEO Company on Koumandarias Street. From 1967, LCCI was based at the residence of Pavlos Pavlidis, located at the corner of Themis and Ifigeneias Streets, opposite the old Post Office.

In 1972, the Chamber acquired its own premises on the third floor of the Verengaria (Kolakides) Building, where it remained until 2004, when the long-standing vision of acquiring a building of its own was finally realised. Since 2004, LCCI has been housed in its own building on Franklin Roosevelt Avenue. As the Chamber did not have its own premises before 1972, much of its work was carried out at the offices of its members.

In 1987, during the presidency of Christakis Georgiades, the Chamber’s Honorary Treasurer at the time, Giannakis Christodoulou, submitted a proposal to the Board of Directors suggesting that consideration be given to acquiring a new building. The existing offices were no longer adequate to meet LCCI’s ever-growing needs. The proposal was rejected by almost all Board members, mainly for financial reasons.

In 1993, during the presidency of Michalis Polydorides, the proposal was put forward again. This time, the Board did not reject it; instead, it requested that a study be carried out on the matter. Although some members expressed reservations about proceeding with the project, the Board appointed the first committee to examine the proposal. It consisted of Phedias Nicolaou, Giannakis Christodoulou and Pambos Zenios, who was later replaced by Akis Charalambous.

In 1999, Toni Antoniou was elected President. He immediately announced his intention to move forward with a definitive decision on the construction of a building of LCCI’s own. Following a decision by the Board, the search began for a suitable site and for the necessary financial resources. Shortly afterwards, it was decided to sell the Chamber’s privately owned floor in the Verengaria Building. The proceeds were used to purchase two plots of land on Franklin Roosevelt Avenue. Some time later, LCCI secured a loan and purchased two additional plots adjoining the rear of the original properties.

The process then began for obtaining the necessary permits, preparing the architectural plans, selecting the contractor through a tendering process and undertaking the other arrangements required for construction. For three consecutive years, until the building was completed, both the committee and President Antoniou held lengthy meetings every week with the architect and the other professionals involved in the project. Construction was completed in 2004, and in 2005 the building hosted an LCCI General Assembly for the first time.

The building was erected on the two plots fronting Franklin Roosevelt Avenue, while the other two plots adjoining the rear remain available for parking, with the intention of utilising them in the future according to the Chamber’s needs. The main building, used exclusively for LCCI’s operations, consists of a ground floor and three upper floors, with a total area of 1,588 square metres. The two ground-floor shops, located on the eastern and western sides of the building and separate from the main structure, have been sold. The second and third floors on both the eastern and western sides belong to LCCI and are leased to third parties.

Numerous members and businesses contributed to the construction and furnishing of LCCI’s building. These included the Galatariotis Group, the Lanitis Group, Columbia Shipmanagement, Muskita Ltd, Phil. Andreou Ltd, many other businesses, as well as members of the Board of Directors.