The Joannou & Paraskevaides Group, better known as J&P, ranks consistently in the ENR top International Building and Civil Engineering Companies in the world. In a multitude of terrains and climatic variations, on projects as diverse as airports, industrial, commercial and residential buildings, hotels, hospitals, motorways, roads and bridges and oil & gas installations J&P delivers work of outstanding quality, magnitude and importance.
The story began in 1941 when Stelios Joannou and George Paraskevaides formed a partnership in Cyprus.
After the end of the Second World War, J&P began significant works in the civil sector and for the next 20 years it was a major contributor to the infrastructure of emerging Cyprus. J&P built blocks of flats and a variety of housing units, theatres, small factories and civic buildings, and its project portfolio quickly expanded. J&P built the holiday complexes and tourist developments which would form the bedrock of the Island’s emerging Tourism industry. By the time Cyprus gained independence in 1960, the writing was on the wall: The foundations for an international company had been laid. J&P was well staffed, with resources that could be given no further challenges in the local market. It was time to acknowledge J&P’s capabilities and look beyond the Cyprus shores.
J&P’s first overseas involvement was in Libya in 1961. The country had just started exploiting its oil reserves with the collaboration of international oil companies. It was a promising venue and a major challenge because of the harsh terrain and lack of basic infrastructure. Joannou & Paraskevaides (Overseas) Ltd was formed and took up the challenge. The new company was soon awarded major contracts at the British base of El Adem, quickly followed by large housing projects for the Libyan Government. These led to civil works projects for the oil companies and soon J&P became noted for its ability to work in challenging conditions. Against the desert sun, amid the endless sand, J&P delivered.
