Road to success is not easy but with hardwork and determination anything is possible.

This rings true for Younas Haniff, a well known businessman in Fiji.

Mr Haniff started his career as a customs officer in 1957 after he finished his high school education from DAV high school in 1955.

“I worked there for 33 years before I retired from the post of a principal collector for customs,” Mr Haniff said.

He was then elected at the Fiji Football Association (FFA) and an assistant secretary for Fiji Referees Association.

He was later appointed to the position of general secretary of Fiji Football Association and worked there from 1975 to 1986.

He then did not seek re-election in 1986 and was elected a life member of FFA in 1988.

He then decided to move into business.

“I bought my first property in Nausori in 1983 and this is where it all started for me,” he said.

“I then registered my company which is known as Youneeda Holdings Limited and constructed a single story building consisting of seven shops in Nausori.

“The construction started in 1983 and finished in 1984 which consisted of seven shops in the main street of Nausori.”

Mr Haniff later invested in a property in Sigatoka in 1987, which could house 10 shops.

“We later renovated our property in Nausori and added four more shops to the building and extended one more story which is currently occupied by Legal Aid.

“We also renovated our Sigatoka property again three years ago.

“In 1991, we decided to add one more to our property in Laucala Beach area, currently rented by Suva Christian Community School.”

Today Mr Haniff’s properties house organisations like Legal Aid, Water Authority of Fiji, the Hot Bread Kitchen, Latter-day Saints Church in Nausori and  Fiji National Provident Fund, the Land Transport Authority of Fiji ,  Merchant Finance and  Biosecurity Authority of Fiji in Sigatoka.

Mr Haniff said investment in real estate was a good idea for him and he encourages investors to invest in this area for many reasons.

“Real estate price variations depends on the location and I think investing in real estate is one the wisest decisions any investor would make,” he said.

“Real estate price has never reduced therefore the future of it is very bright.”

Youneeda Holdings plans to invest $3 million this year to renovate and extend their properties both in Nausori and Sigatoka.

Edited by: Farzana Nisha

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