BBBI’s Success Story
Investing in Cyprus Made Easy
2 min read
BBBI’s Success Story: Investing in Cyprus Made Easy
For Nayef Kassatly, Managing Director of Boutique Beverages Bottling Factory International LTD (BBBI), Cyprus has proven to be a smooth, reliable, and welcoming destination for investment. Part of the renowned Kassatly Group—an established family-owned beverage company operating since 1919—the decision to expand operations to Europe was strategic. After evaluating several Mediterranean countries, Cyprus emerged as the clear choice.
“In terms of ease of doing business, government support, and investor facilitation, Cyprus exceeded our expectations,” Kassatly explains. “We were guided at every step, from permits to implementation, and the experience was incredibly positive.”
BBBI’s facility, located just 10 kilometers from Limassol Port, is a major production and export hub for the company’s flagship non-alcoholic beverage line, FREEZ MIX, already popular across the GCC. The company secured all factory licenses in just six months—a remarkable achievement considering the complexity involved. With support from Invest Cyprus and the Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry’s Facilitation Unit, bureaucracy was minimal and highly coordinated.
Once licensed, the construction phase was executed at record speed. “We completed 27,000 square meters of development and launched production within 18 months from the first excavation,” Kassatly notes. “We partnered with one of Cyprus’s top construction firms and found the market to be full of qualified, professional contractors.”
Beyond business, Kassatly highlights the island’s attractive lifestyle and strategic location. “Cyprus is safe, English-speaking, and family-friendly—with excellent schools and a welcoming community,” he says. “For us, being just 30 minutes from Beirut was an added advantage. Our teams can commute easily, and we feel at home here.”
While the investment journey was overwhelmingly positive, Kassatly notes a few areas for improvement. High energy costs and port charges remain challenges, though he points out that discussions with relevant ministries are ongoing and that potential solutions are in motion. Labor shortages, a common issue across Europe, have been mitigated by the responsiveness of Cyprus’s labor authorities, who have enabled skilled staffing from third countries where necessary.
Despite these minor hurdles, Kassatly remains strongly optimistic. “I would absolutely recommend Cyprus to any investor looking to enter the European market,” he affirms. “The support we received, the efficiency of procedures, and the quality of partnerships made this project a true success.”
As BBBI continues to scale up operations from its Cyprus base, it stands as a clear example of how international businesses can thrive on the island—backed by a pro-business environment, skilled workforce, and strategic connectivity to Europe and the Middle East.
