Introduction
IKAROS GROUP CORPORATION
Ikaros Group Corporation is an International Holding Company, founded in 2007 after a merger of several companies from different International Business Sectors.
Currently, Ikaros Group operates businesses in several markets in Asia and Europe and manages/ holds ownerships in approximately 20 companies, mainly in Thailand and Finland.
Ikaros Group is operating and investing in carefully selected industries from Financial Instruments, and Real Estate Developments, to Agricultural and Renewable Energy Projects and Lifestyle Entertainment.
All of these operations and businesses are underpinned by strong values, principles and expertise to help realize Ikaros Group Corporations’ true vision of perfection.
FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS ENTERPRISES
Ikaros Group Corporation’s goal is to become an important influencer in several international markets as well as in financial and governmental sectors.
The Mission of Ikaros Group is to research, develop and manage businesses and investment-structures in the most profitable international markets.
The main target on the financial sector is to grow Ikaros Group Corporation’s and its investors capital and assets and to co-operate with several large financial and governmental institutions worldwide.
This is possible through the Corporation’s internationally expanding financial and business networks and professional organization.
THE LEGEND BEHIND THE NAME IKAROS GROUP
To understand the meaning and the interesting story behind Ikaros Group Corporation’s name and also the reason why the Management of the company decided to use this name, we need to be familiar with two fascinating and historical tales, both with very different meanings.
Greek Mythology – The Son Called Icarus
Many of us have read about the old story about the boy called Icarus, who together with his father Daedalus, decided to escape from the captivity of King Minos. This story has its origins all the way back to the time around 1000 BC and is one of the most well documented stories from the Greek mythology.
The story takes place on the island of Crete from where the King Minos had built a large labyrinth prison and placed Daedalus and his son Icarus into it for the rest of their lives.
Daedalus, an Athenian craftsman, well known for his skills and creativity, planned their escape and managed to build a pair of large wings for himself and for his son by using feathers, strings and wax. With these wings they planned to escape from the island and set themselves free.
As they were taking off, the father advised his son not to fly too near of the sun, as the wax holding the wings together might react to the heat; nor fly too near the sea as it sea might dampen the feathers.
What happened was that as the boy learned to use his wings, he started to fly more higher and eventually got too close of the sun and the heat of the Sun God Helios, caused the wings to start melting.
According to this legend, Icarus crashed into the sea that today bears his name, near the island of Samos.
In other versions of this legend, Icarus drowned whilst trying to swim to freedom with his father from the island of Crete; or that they would have sailed away with a vessel made by Daedalus and he drowned during that journey.
Some also say that during this journey he was captured and killed years later.
This story about the boy Icarus and his father with wings made of feather is a fascinating tale, but does not have a direct connection to the name of Ikaros Group Corporation.
A REMARKABLE HISTORY OF THE ISLAND CALLED IKAROS
On his way to India, one of the most well known figures in history, Alexander the Great discovered an island that reminded him of an island located in the Aegean sea, and decided to name this island as Ikaros.
The Greeks lived on Ikaros for two centuries. Ikaros Island was part of a maritime trade route in the Ptolemaic era. Coins and seals found there point to Ikaros being an important trading post with links to Iraq, Persia, the Mediterranean, the Levant, India and Africa. Its fresh water and strategic position contributed to the Island’s development.
Several years later, the island was renamed as Failaka.
So why is this island so special, and why name a corporation after it?
Naturally, the history of the island as an important trading post is already fascinating, but how does that differ from other legendary locations in the history, such as Babylon, Troy or the legendary Atlantis, that were all destroyed during the time?
FROM HISTORY TO PRESENT
The fact that differs Ikaros/ Failaka island from other legends is that the history of the island goes back as far as the Stone Age and still continues today.
The island of Failaka that survived so many challenges during its history of thousands of years, is today part of Kuwait.
Kuwait’s position in international oil trade as well as in global financial markets is extremely remarkable and a very interesting part of the history of Failaka island.
IKAROS GROUP CORPORATION
An island discovered by Alexander the Great on his way to India approximately 2300 years ago, which during its colorful history has survived numerous challenges and attacks, of which the latest by Saddam Hussein, today stands as a part of one of the wealthiest and influential countries in the world.
It is of our opinion that this is an inspiring and suitable name for an innovative and growing international corporation such as Ikaros Group.
When speaking of Icarus and Ikaros, we also need to remember that Icarus, the boy with the wings made of feathers is a part of Greek mythology as the Island of Ikaros is a part of our geographical and trading history.
“Lying 20 km North-East of Kuwait city, the island of Failaka is the most beautiful and famous of Kuwait’s islands. It combines the ancient history of Kuwait, dating back to the early Stone Age and the modern history of Kuwait, when the early Utubs settled in after their long journey, prior to their settlement on the Kuwaiti mainland in the late 17th century.”
Source: www.kuwait-info.com
