Showing True Respect for Fijians

As a Fijian who has settled in Australia, my recent visit back home was a chance to spend time with family, catch up with old friends and see how much Fiji has changed.

But one of the things that impressed me most was seeing what the Grace Road Group has done for our country.

Its President, Daniel Kim, is someone I have never met. Yet, from what I have seen, he has shown more genuine respect for ordinary Fijians through his actions than many business leaders who have operated in our country for decades.

Let me explain why.

Firstly, look at the investment.

How many large companies in Fiji can honestly say they put all their profits back into our country?

We have big businesses whose owners and directors have expensive homes and investments in Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere. They make their money from Fijians, but much of that wealth ends up overseas.

Now look at Grace Road.

Instead of simply making money and taking it out of Fiji, the company continues to invest in new supermarkets, restaurants, farms, shopping centres and other businesses.

Every new investment creates jobs. Every new business creates opportunities for Fijian families. And every dollar invested locally helps our economy grow.

That, to me, is real respect for the country and its people.

But there is something else that impressed me even more, and it is something so simple that many people might overlook it.

The toilets.

Yes, something as basic as a clean toilet.

Travel from Nadi to Suva and you will see Grace Road’s True Mart outlets along the way. Their toilets are clean, regularly maintained and available for people to use without having to pay.

Think about that for a moment.

In a country where some businesses charge people just to use a toilet, and sometimes cannot even keep those toilets clean, Grace Road has shown that things can be done differently.

It does not matter whether you are a farmer coming down from the highlands, a fisherman visiting from an outer island, an accountant travelling for work or a family taking a long drive.

You are treated the same.

You do not need to be wealthy. You do not need to buy something. You do not need to explain yourself.

You are a human being who needs to use a basic facility, and you are treated with dignity.

That is what real respect looks like.

I understand Daniel Kim has spoken before about the importance of providing these basic conveniences to Fijians. It is a simple idea, but one that says a great deal about how a business sees the people it serves.

And perhaps the greatest thing Grace Road has done is raise the standard for everyone else.

For too long, Fijians have been expected to accept whatever level of service businesses choose to provide.

Grace Road has challenged that thinking.

When one company provides clean facilities, modern supermarkets, better shopping experiences and convenient services, other businesses have to take notice.

They have to improve. They have to compete. They have to start thinking more seriously about what their customers deserve.

And who benefits from that competition?

The Fijian people.

This is why I believe Daniel Kim’s contribution goes far beyond building supermarkets and shopping centres. He has helped show what businesses in Fiji should be doing.

And the investments continue.

I recently read that Grace Road has been investing in solar energy, with reports of significant savings in electricity costs and plans to expand its use of renewable energy.

How incredible is that?

A company that is already investing heavily in Fiji is now looking at ways to reduce its dependence on imported fuel and make its operations more sustainable.

It is also investing in agriculture and local food production, areas that are extremely important for Fiji’s future.

These are the kinds of investments our country needs.

I am not suggesting that Grace Road or Daniel Kim is perfect. No business or individual is.

But I believe we should be fair enough to recognise good things when we see them.

As someone who now lives overseas, I want to see more businesses invest in Fiji, create opportunities for our people and treat every Fijian with the dignity they deserve.

Daniel Kim, a man I have never personally met, has shown me through his company’s actions what that respect can look like.

And I sincerely hope more business leaders in #Fiji follow his example.

Because at the end of the day, Fijians deserve nothing less.