Don’t be lazy, is the advise by Rishneet Chand, a 23-year-old businessman, to youths and budding entrepreneurs.

Mr Chand started his business, Global Roots, with $360 Government unemployment cash assistance last year.

His business involves buying cassava and dalo from farmers and supplying it to local supermarkets.

The root crops are transported to his house in Namadi for peeling and packing before delivery to supermarkets.

More than 20 people work at the pack house.

Today, Mr Chand owns a hair salon in Makoi with an investment of $10,000, and has started exporting handicrafts to Auckland, New Zealand.

Rishneet Chand serving a customer at his salon in Makoi.

He buys handicrafts from Kabara in Lau.

His latest shipment to New Zealand was sent last week.

He dedicated his success to his late dad who was his inspiration.

“My dad was self-employed and he taught me at a very young age that anything is possible, you just need to work hard and believe in yourself,” he said.

“When things go wrong he taught me to break the problem down into pieces and push ahead, taking on each piece one at a time until the issue is resolved.”

“As a result, no problem was insurmountable and no goal out of reach.”

“I have been empowered by this belief throughout my life, something that fuels me now more than ever as an entrepreneur.”

His dad passed on last year in March.

Mr Chand is finding ways to partner with the Ministry of Agriculture and get his business expanded.

“My aim is to get an award from the Prime Minister’s International Business Awards.”

Mr Chand is the youngest of five boys. He thanked his family, especially his brother Ravneet Chand, for supporting him both financially and emotionally.

Ravneet, 32, said he supported his brother’s idea of starting his own business and would continue to support him when needed.

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