The young sons of two developers who shaped the Gold Coast skyline, but fell victim to the global financial crisis, are in Asia trying to rebuild their family empires.
Will Nikiforides and Evan Raptis, the sons of Con Nokiforides and Jim Raptis, are in Taiwan looking for investment and joint venture opportunities.
They are part of 15 people traveling as part of Mayor Tom Tate’s trade mission to Taiwan and China.They’re hoping to put their father’s high profile troubles behind them and start afresh. They had both set up companies by themselves during the large losses their fathers’ sustained in 2007.
Nikiforides left his father’s company Niecon Developments and setup Nuvoprojects, hoping to influence the city he loves. “We are not prepared to give up on the city,” he told The Gold Coast Bulletin.
“I have been humbled to be part of a family that has developed the city and I want to continue to enhance it.”
He has big shoes to fill, with his father completing projects like the award winning Oracle and Niecon Plaza in Broadbeach and Reflections in Coolangatta.
The company that built the award-winning Oracle moved into the hands of the bank earlier this year.
“The banks have been tough for the Gold Coast. We are here looking for joint ventures, business partnership and investment opportunities,” Mr Nikiforides Jr said.
Mr Raptis Jr, who learned his skills from his father, said he was passionate about the Gold Coast development industry and wanted to be part of the next upward cycle. “We have to look for new opportunities to be able to do that. We have to position ourselves for when the market returns,” he said.
Both were speakers at a two-day investment seminar in Taiwanese cities Taipei and Tainan.
Source: Gold Coast Bulletin