From left: Carpenters Finance Risk and Compliance manager, Neeraj Ram, general manager, Alok Mishra. the principal shareholder and chief executive of the MBF Holdings Tan Sri Sir Dr Ninian Mogan Lourdenadin, Carpenter Finance National Operations manger, Naushad Ali and Sales and Marketing manager, Rajeshwar Nand at the launch of the new look MoneyLINK card at Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Fale on Friday night. Photo: JUSTINE MANNAN
By RANOBA BAOA
The Malaysian head of one of the biggest and most influential business groups in Fiji has praised its performance and said things are looking good in the country.
Prominent Malaysian businessman Tan Sri Sir Dr Ninian Mogan Lourdenadin said in Suva that all divisions of his Carpenters (Fiji) Group Limited are performing well.
And he said its Morris Hedstrom supermarket and retail store chain has done especially well.
“The highlight in terms of divisions are that all operations are doing extremely well,” Tan Sri Sir Mogan said in a brief interview while visiting his Fijian operations..
“Morris Hedstrom has done a record turnover, so has (Carpenters) Motors.”
Tan Sri Sir Mogan is the principal shareholder and CEO of MBF Holdings, a Malaysian conglomerate operating in Malaysia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Australia.
He said Carpenters shares a history of well over 100 years with Fiji.
He said the various divisons will continue investing this year as business confidence builds up in our economy.
“I have to have confidence since I’m investing,” he said.
“We are adding to our stores … and we’re upgrading substantially.”
Tan Sri Sir Mogan said one of the divisions, Industrial Marine Engineering, had a hiccup because of a Fiji Sun report on its Naiqasiqasi Dry Dock which had caused a stir.
But he said the matter was now under control.
“Besides that the shipping division and others are all doing extremely well,” Tan Sri Sir Mogan said.
When asked whether there may be a possibility of expanding into another division any time soon, he replied: “At the moment because we cover all sectors of the economy so there’s nothing to add on to it. We are contemplating a few investments definitely, one or two investments here and there.”
Exciting year
W. R. Carpenters (South Pacific) executive director, Daniel Whippy echoed similar sentiments to Tan Sri Sir Mogan saying: “2014 is going to be an exciting year.
“The group in total has done very well in the last two years and we’re looking for a big year this year.”
He acknowledged a job well done by staff and the suppliers and made special reference to Carpenters
Fiji director retail and marketing Kunaseelan Sabaratnam.
He said Mr Sabaratnam was the ‘architect’ who has paved the way for part of group’s success.
About Tan Sri Sir Mogan
(source Wikipedia)
Tan Sri Sir Ninian Mogan Lourdenadin KCMG KBE is a businessman, investor, and medical doctor. He is the principal shareholder and CEO of MBF Holdings, a Malaysian services conglomerate operating in Malaysia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Australia.
According to Forbes magazine he is the 22nd richest person in Malaysia, with a net worth of US$500 million.