Meetex hits success

YEARS of hard work had a sweet reward for Chandrakant Bhukhan of Meetex Fiji Limited when he received the Prime Minister’s Exporter of the Year Award. He was awarded for his excellent export per formance in the New Exporter Category. Mr Chandrakant is like a one man army. Unlike many other giant organ isations, he does everything from A to Z in his own business.

“I began my business career in the early sixties with Fiji Lodge, where I learnt about working long hours. Later I joined A S Farebrother & Co. Ltd with the inspira tion of Natvarlal Vagh. Here I was exposed to the export market for the first time. I leamt the fine art of business from my third employer Harikisun Brothers, where I worked for five years from 1963 till 1968”.

In 1968, Chandrakant ventured his first business in partnership with his brothers in

the name of Ramanlal Brothers. “Our com pany did remarkable business for 15 years.

It gave us all a very good and valuable experience and ultimately all of us have decided to start our own business,” he said.

His own business, Meetex Fiji Limited, was incorporated in 1983. The company’s principal activities are that of a retail cloth ing business, and over the past two years venturing into the export business. The directors are in full-time employment of

the company and have expertise in all facets of the export business. Chandrakant, who is the managing director, has over 20 years experience in the export business.

Over the past two years, the company’s resources have been directed to the export of kava and associated products. The com pany’s success has been due to sound oper ational management and cash flow man agement.

Meetex Fiji Limited decided early that if it were to make a substantial contribu tion to the economy, then it would have to export. The directors considered a number of products for export with the primary considerations being: - The impact on foreign reserves of the country. In this regard, the export dollar must have substantial local value content. - The enhance the company’s image as a supplier of premium quality products. - Employment generation and, more importantly, employment for locals.

Meetex Fiji Limited is an outward looking organisation with an export-led growth as its objective. The company exports kava, primarily to European coun tries and the United States of America. ■