Dreams Come True for Nausori Highlands Entrepreneurs
Being able to serve loyal customers of Mulomulo, Bukaya, Nausori Highlands and neighbouring villages, communities and schools is living the dream for a young entrepreneurial family of Mulomulo Nadi Backroad.
This family own the newest and largest bakery around the area, the Malolo Bakery, Pastries and Fast-food.
Sheetal Shivani Raj, along with her husband and 14-year-old daughter, are the proud owners of the recently opened bakery to cater for the needs of a growing customer base of the Nadi Backroad.
“We already had a dairy shop and a bowser (service station) operating, which we started off with help from family members providing loans after no banks would give us a loan without placing security,” said Ms Raj.
“We could not obtain a loan from the banks because of the security requirements.
“So, we approached family members for a small loan to buy off the shop that was there.
“Starting off with nothing, we value savings and that is what helped us grow our business,” she said.
“With the savings from the dairy shop, we invested in the bowser, then with the savings from there we invested into opening this bakery,” said Ms Raj.
She said FDB came to their assistance with its COVID19 Recovery Credit Guarantee Scheme.
“We could not miss this opportunity as the Scheme is really designed to help businesses such as mine which are start-ups.
“With the savings we were able to secure the space for the bakery and with the loan we were able to open the bakery where we employ three staff as well,” said Ms Raj.
“Our bakery offers fresh bread and fast food so that customers can get hot meals anytime of the day.”
The 31-year-old entrepreneur said that during the COVID19 lockdown, customers from the Nausori Highlands, especially the nearby villagers, could not access shops nearby so her business would deliver fresh bread to them at the border.
“The feedback from our customers really motivates me to keep our services top notch always,” said Ms Raj.
“When our loan was approved by FDB I felt so much more empowered to serve my customers as I feel there was a need for a bakery in this area.
“It was not easy taking a risk and starting a business here especially when we are originally from Nausori,” she said.
“My husband and I are not tertiary-educated but we worked hard, and we saved up to be able to fulfil our dreams.
“FDB’s loan has been a blessing and that goes out to show that when one works hard, doors do open for growth.
“I hope young people like me thinking of
starting a business can read my story and be encouraged to take that bold step because it can be very rewarding.
“Even my 14-year-old daughter has an interest in entrepreneurship and is always helping us out when she is free from her schoolwork,” said Ms Raj.
“We look forward to welcoming more customers to our new bakery which is only five minutes’ drive from the Nadi Backroad into the Nausori Highland Road,” she said.
Ms Raj had applied for $25,000 which she received in August.
“I will payoff the loan from profits we make
and I am looking forward to working with FDB more in the future to grow my businesses.”
The COVID19 Recovery Credit Guarantee Scheme offers businesses the opportunity to take a loan from the FDB, ranging between $10,000 and $100,000.
For the first two years businesses do not need to repay anything to the bank as the loan can be structured as an interest-only loan with the interest paid by the Government as a measure to assist Fiji’s economic recovery.
From the third year, businesses must start repaying their loan..