Feride Cem, one of the columnists of Sabah Newspaper, reserved her column called Cheval Glass for Dr. Suat Günsel, the only Cypriot whose name enlisted in dollar billioners list of Forbes Magazine.
Here is the interview of Feride Cem with Dr. Suat Günsel, that was published in Sabah Newspaper:
When you see the Near East University of North Cyprus, which is a small-island state, the only words that come out of your lips are “very huge”. You can cleary see how the “small” turned to be the “big”… Following his higher education studies in Middle East Technical University in physics, Dr. Günsel started his business life with a private school, now turning into a gigantic education empire in Cyprus. The Hospital of NEU, which came into life with an investment of 200 million dollars, is his apple of eye. This year Günsel, due to his wealth reaching to 1.1 billion, was enlisted in the Welthiest 100 Turks List of Forbes as the 36th welthiest Turk. With this wealth, the enterpreneur become the only Cypriot whose name enlisted in the list of dollar billioners. Dr. Günsel says “In fact I am not very pleased to be enlisted in that list. I was not taken into that list by the boxes full of gold. I got into that list by carving a stone patiently with an axe. I turned every single penny that I earned into an investment in this country”.
WE ARE CHILDREN SETTING UP CASTLES FROM SAND
Are there any difficulties encountered due to becoming an emperor in Cyprus?
Running of a person with two feet is not the same of a person running with a single foot. Cypriots resemble to runners having a single foot. Cypriots run but not as fast as expected. Cypriots resemble children building up castles from sand on the beach. While we build up one of the bastions, the other one is demolished by a wave. In other words, becoming a Cypriot is starting to life from zero point.
How does this reflect on your works?
Surely this makes many things harder…For example, we are getting into a business relation with another country, the South negatively reacts this as soon as this relation has been revealed, the embassies of South immediately attempt to prevent our activities and come up with unjustified threats. I have received many awards, however, many others were prevented. Golden awards turned into silver or bronze. Perhaps I would have saddened for not havig even “a simple thank”. However, I am now used to live without applauses.
We built up a hospital costing 200 million usd
Despite all these troubles you managed to build up a giant hospital?
All nations need legends. We established a hospital comprising the most advanced Technologies, having 56 thousand square meter closed indoor area, and costing 200 million dollars. In my opinion, this hospital is the “Einstein of all hospitals” and the number one of the world…Those visiting it says this, too.
You have established a new university in Kyrenia?
Yes, we established a university specializing on maritime studies. This is also a candid institution nominated to be the number one and the “ideal model” in its class. This is because the geographical location and climate of Cyprus is fairly appropriate for this. We have the warmest waters of Mediterranean. We are dedicated to be the best school of the world in maritime sector. We have all sort of opportunities to realize this objective.
The son of a forester
Suat Günsel, the emperor of education sector, was born as a son of a forester in Beşiktepe Village of South Cyprus. He lived in that village up to 11 years of his age, then moved to Nicosia for further education. Suat Günsel, one of the very first students of English College opened in Turkish Sector of Nicosia, completed his higher education studies in Ankara. “Suat Hoca”, for economic problems encountered in his country, comments “I am very dissappointed fort his. They made so big mistakes. Both sectors are affected from these problems.”
