Krishneel Kumar established his freight company with only $200 in 2017 at 24 years old.

Today, the 31-year-old has branches, not only in Fiji, but in Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, Singapore, India and he will be opening an office in Hong Kong next year.

In addition to this, Mr Kumar opened his $250k Freights custom bond warehouse in Naikabula, Lautoka on Friday.

Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum officiated at the opening of the warehouse.

CGM Freights Container Freight Station at Naikabula, Lautoka on September 23, 2022. Photo: Fijian Government

The company goes by the slogan ‘we control, ground and monitor’ (CGM).

In his address during the opening ceremony, Mr Kumar shared that at the age of 23, he was looking at exports and imports going and freight happening in Fiji.

“I had just finished off from high school, the only thing that was on my mind was that freight will never stop and I thought what to do, and how can I develop more,” he said.

“After high school I needed to choose my career path and shipping had come on my mind.”

“I started my office in Suva and then opened up my office in New Zealand. We are now operating from China 67 per cent at the moment.

“37.2 per cent of our imports are coming from India and there was a need to open an office in Mumbai.”

He said he planned to open a Container Freight Station(CFS) in Suva and the next aim was to go into the Pacific Island countries to help clients and facilitate in bringing freight prices down.

“CGM is here to support and if you want to import anything we will assist with the trust between the shipper and the buyer,” he added.

Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum (back, fourth from left) with the CGM Freights managing director, Krishneel Kumar (back, third from left) with the staff following the opening of the Container Freight Station at Naikabula, Lautoka on September 23, 2022. Photo:Nicolette Chambers

The A-G said Mr Kumar must be seen as a role model for young people.

“Because a lot of young people can only be job seekers not job creators, and he has obviously proven that you can do it, at an early age if you have the drive, the fortitude, the vision, you will get to your destination,” the A-G highlighted.

“I want to congratulate CGM Freights because if you listen to the director, his approach to business is very different, his approach is more to work, on higher volume in perhaps a lesser margin and that is something fundamentally that we have been saying here in Fiji that businesses should start looking at.”

Story By: Nicolette Chambers

Feedback: nicolette.chambers@fijisun.com.fj