EXPERIENCING first-hand the struggle of having to travel in a 50-foot boat from Suva to Levuka for two or even three days was enough motivation for Subarmani “George” Goundar to build a shipping empire in his country of birth to serve all Fijians.
If there is one thing George, as he is commonly known, wants more than anything else in life, then it is to see that maritime passengers are provided the best and luxurious service while travelling to their destinations.
Mr Goundar’s latest acquisition is a ship which brings his total fleet count to four and it does not stop there.
He is planning to purchase two more vessels this year and also construct a dry dock facility for his growing fleet size.
He believes success comes to those who have the right attitude and are focused in moving in the right direction.
For someone who is as successful as Mr Goundar, the achievements highlighted would never be possible without the hard work and support from three inspirational people in his life — his late father Narayan Sami Goundar, mother Daya Wati and his forever supportive wife Indra Goundar.
Growing up on Koro Island surrounded by the sea, he had a dream that he would in time change the shipping industry and provide the best ferry services to those who depended on boats and inter-island ferries as their mode of transportation.
Going back to 1980, Mr Goundar continued his formal education, undertaking a four-year proprietorship program on marine at the then Fiji Institute of Technology.
Five years later, he was on his way to Canada and soon found his dream job which he started with a Canadian-based company known as BC Ferries, where he stayed for 24 years.
Fiji was always in the mind of this businessman and the big break came in 2011, the year Goundar Shipping Services was established much to the delight of many Fijians who now travel in the company’s ships.
The acquisition of Lomaiviti Princess 1, which was formerly known as MV Queen of Prince Rupert, was the start of a dream come true.
Mr Goundar said it was soon after the decision was made to purchase the ship when he told his wife that he was returning to Fiji to start his shipping business.
And the rest is history as they say.
“My vision when I left Fiji in 1985 was that one day I will return and make this industry big. At the age of 49 I decided to move back, and there was a great opportunity from this Government, and I thank this Government for allowing expats to come back to Fiji and invest,” he said.
He said the choice between staying in Canada with his family or to leave his family behind and travel to Fiji and start his dream business was hard, but he personally believed this was his calling.
“I stayed in the shipping industry for 24 years in Canada with BC Ferris, I was a person who started from the basics. I started with mopping floors and making tea for officials, so the ethics were instilled in me by my parents to work hard, to achieve something in life through working hard and most importantly to be patient,” Mr Goundar said.
Mr Goundar said the decision to move back to Fiji was the only decision his wife did not disagree with and her total commitment and support was all he needed to start the business which now provides transportation to thousands of Fijians.
“So I told my wife, I’m going back home, my wife was not too happy, but first time in 24 years she never said no to me. She said if that’s your will, I’m with you,” he said.
“Sometimes they say all you need is good support. My wife and my two young children are my source of strength. Leaving my young kids at an age when they really needed a dad, I was not there. My wife took my role on and moulded my two young children.”
His second purchase came in 2013 from Tahiti, Lomaiviti Princess II, the vessel was formerly known as the MV Pupaa Pae II.
Now with two vessels under its banner, Mr Goundar’s company, obviously with the support, assistance and guidance of his parents, began flourishing.
Last year, Mr Goundar brought in the company’s third vessel Lomaiviti Princess III which again he bought from BC Ferries.
“There was a law that we cannot bring a ship that was more than 20 years old.
“I approached the Minister for Transport Parveen Kumar and with a vision and knowledge in business he said go ahead with the vessel.
“When the Prime Minister visited Canada, I took him on board LP 3 and he said he would instruct the minister to change the law.
“So it’s a working partnership, I have been working very hard to change the dynamics of shipping in Fiji.
“We need better ships, as you know the young islanders have moved to mainland. We need to focus on moving young farmers back to the islands so that they can depend on reliable service.”
And towards the end of last year, December 7 to be exact, the company was again preparing to welcome its fourth acquisition, Lomaiviti Princess IV.
“As you know six years ago, this shipping industry was dying, but this Government came on board and worked on allowing us to provide the best and the right ships for the right location,” said Mr Goundar.
“Government has been spending a lot of money in improving jetties, lighthouses and so many other things. So shipping has an opportunity to revive itself to a status it was 30 years ago.”
The Goundar Shipping empire will soon be expanding to have another two vessels added to its fleet and also the construction of their own dry-docking facility, saving costs of having to spend $1.5 million in taking ships to New Zealand or Papua New Guinea to be serviced.
“We’re negotiating to bring in two more ships next year. My wife and I have visited the vessel few months ago. And we are in the final stages of closing the deal,” he said.
“I think it’s the right time to invest and revive the shipping industry and revive the local talent. As you know Fiji is the hub of the Pacific and we don’t have the dry dock facility in Fiji. So we’re looking at that too.”
