Ms Darshika Raj,
Representatives of Kundan Singh Supermarkets,
Members of the Media,
Ladies and Gentleman,
It is my pleasure to be here today to officiate the launch of what can only be described as a milestone in a young business person’s life.
Firstly, I would like to congratulate Ms Raj for her gutsy effort in establishing this business, “Just Say It”.
I understand this business has been born by converting talent and passion into this business. You are definitely an inspiration for fellow Fijian youth and other aspiring entrepreneurs out there.
We encourage all Fijians to pursue their dreams and passion. Use that skill and God-given talent to create new things, inspire others and earn an income.
In a short span of time, you have managed to have more than 1,700 followers on your Facebook page — all of whom are potential customers. If you asked traditional business owners, I’m sure they would tell you they wish they had access to customers at the convenience of their fingertips.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Half of our population is below the age of 27 and a half years, and 69 per cent of Fijians are below the age of 40 years.
To quote the Hon. Prime Minister, “What that means is that we are a very young nation. That can be an enormous advantage, but if – and only if – we give our young people the support and resources they need to grow into productive, educated and ambitious Fijians.”
So today, we are here to celebrate the results of what started as an idea and is now in retail. To have come this far is an achievement in itself. Through your cards, you put smiles on people’s faces. And our “Bula-smiles” need to return.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As policy makers, our priority is to create a conducive and business-friendly environment, whether you are a MSME or a large business.
What we want is to provide opportunities in the space of e-commerce, technological advancements, or access to funds like the COVID-19 Response Credit Guarantee Scheme or improving the regulatory environment.
Under MSME Fiji we have a number of initiatives to help young entrepreneurs. Apart from grant schemes, we have specialised training and mentorship that guides Fijians wanting to do business.
We want businesses like yours to grow and thrive – and in doing so aid in our recovery efforts.
It is imperative for us to develop, constantly adjust and refine our policies to make it pro-development and fit for current times.
To the Kundan family, thank you for providing this retail space, which I’m sure it will be an attractive feature for your outlets.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We need more businesses like Kundan Singh to partner with MSMEs to create these types of opportunities. Not only are you supporting livelihoods, you are also motivating them to continuously improve product quality and standards.
We encourage you to impart your business values on upcoming and aspiring entrepreneurs. They are our torch bearers to lead us in the future.
With those few words Ladies and Gentlemen, I once again congratulate Ms Raj on this new journey. Thank you