Acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, with U-Save Supermarket managing director Bobby Khan looking over his shoulder during the opening of the second branch of the U-Save Supermarket at Votualevu, Nadi, last night. Photo: WAISEA NASOKIA
By JYOTI PRATIBHA
Investor confidence in Fiji is growing by the day.
Another clear indication of this is the continuing investment by returning-Fijian Bobby Khan.
Mr Khan, who less than a year ago opened U-Save Supermarket in Votualevu, Nadi with an investment of $3.5 million, has opened yet another U-Save Supermarket in Votualevu.
This time the investment is worth $1.5 million.
The Attorney-General and Minister for Industry and Trade Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum opened this second U-Save Supermarket branch officially last night.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum acknowledged the investments generally by returning Fijians where he stressed such investments are much needed.
He said good work was being done to better the lives of Fijians living in suburbs.
“If we make available good quality goods and services, it will mean better options for Fijians,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.
“Access to good goods and services should not only be the privilege of the rich.”
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum has encouraged former Fijians and those here to invest.
Further investment
by Khan
Meanwhile, Mr Khan said his investment in Fiji is not ending with these two supermarkets.
Work will soon start on a convention centre, also at Votualevu, which would provide a venue of international standard for weddings, church services and other events.
Mr Khan said early next week, work would also start on a third supermarket. This would be in Cuvu, Sigatoka.
Confidence in
Government
Mr Khan’s family left for New Zealand soon after the coup of 1987.
He returned two years ago while taking advantage of the Bainimarama Government’s dual citizenship policy.
“If I wasn’t truly confident in Fiji’s economic growth and if I was not earning returns on my initial investment, I wouldn’t have gone ahead and invested more in Fiji,” Mr Khan said.
“The fact is that investing in Fiji is a very lucrative option and incentives given by this Government makes it a better deal.”
He said the Fijian Government was truly involved in getting rid of red tapism.
“I had tried investing in Fiji previously but the bureaucracy was always a hindrance.
“Thankfully, now those past practices have been gotten rid of,” Mr Khan said.
In this new complex, about 40 more Fijians would be given employment.
Upon the completion of other complexes, more employment opportunities would be created.