Qavio Consulting assists marine businesses in Fiji using BLP Subsidy
“SMEs are vital for supporting new business innovations and are the next wave of growth relevant to economic development.”
The Business Link Pacific Advisor network is host to a range of business advisory service providers who offer quality business advice and services that business owners can follow to meet the practical challenges of their business environment. One of our most experienced business advisors is Qavio Consulting, a financial advisory firm based in Suva, Fiji.
In our latest blog, we checked in with two growing businesses in Fiji who received subsidised access to Qavio’s services, and share the positive impact quality business advice has had on their enterprise.
Brighton Holdings is a multi-faceted company offering shipping services, a wholesaler and retailer for Kava (yaqona), fresh fish and lobsters, and general groceries. In addition, three subsidiary companies are also registered under Brighton Holdings; South Island Traders, South Island Shipping Services and Clearview Architects.
Brighton’s shipping company recently faced a number of challenges in the form of dedicated resources contracted to a stagnant Government route, stiff competition from other shipping services and unpredictable weather conditions, amongst others. They found themselves searching for improved financial guidance for loan applications and ways to better manage high maintenance costs.
In addition to these matters, Brighton Holdings was also in need of assistance with tax concessions and other important accounting work.
Qavio Consulting guided them to successfully re-structure and diversify their businesses into other lucrative ventures thus avoiding many typical hassles that businesses encounter when they attempt to undertake such a process.
Through the assistance of BLP and Qavio, Brighton Holdings was also able to successfully audit and compose their accounting ledgers and to lodge their taxes with full compliance and greatly improved confidence.
“Business Link Pacific via Qavio Consulting greatly changed my business mindset in being able to strategize my business priorities to survive through challenges,” says Ulaisi Baivatu, Director of Brighton Holdings, “Other SMEs should also be helped in this way too.”
He firmly believes that SMEs are significant contributors to Fiji’s economy and it is only through the professional platform provided by BLP and Qavio Consulting that SMEs are given the support they need.
The second growing business is Victoria Marine Limited (VML), a shipping services company established in August 2014 that stemmed from the humble beginnings of an ex-trawler who toiled for years until he ultimately was able to purchase a passenger-cargo ship.
That first ship was named the MV Sea Rakino and as a charter, it carried out regular passenger and cargo runs to the Central Lau Group. Soon, veteran mariner and Director of Victoria Marine, Jo Tagi, realized that their existing cargo ship was insufficient in size and capability to appropriately accommodate enough goods and people required for consistent and contractual franchise work in the other regions of Lau in Fiji.
It wasn’t an easy journey and even after Victoria Marine had a new ship, the MV Brianna, their shipping business still faced many challenges including; isolation and exposure of Lau Group islands and adverse weather events, lack of suitable wharves for conventional vessels and anchorages which can result in long delays, higher expenditure of fuel, rations and extended turnaround times.
Mr. Tagi is grateful for Qavio Consulting and Business Link Pacific, saying they could not have entered the scene at a more opportune time. They successfully eased Victoria Marine’s financial stresses by expertly providing them with professional restructure to their annual financial returns and reports, and auditing their accounting ledgers which enabled them to lodge their taxes with full Vat and FNPF compliance.
“Business Link Pacific provides a business advisor networking platform that enables small and medium-sized businesses like us to simply visit any of BLP’s professional and accredited advisors and get the business advice we need,” explained Mr Tagi.
Mr. Tagi reiterated that because BLP is an organization that plays a significantly important role in enabling private sector growth in the Pacific, SMEs like Victoria Marine will have more confidence as well as the proper mindset to strategize their business priorities accordingly.
If you’re a growing business in the Pacific and are interested in gaining cost effective access to quality business advice, contact your Business Link Pacific in-country representative to set up a free consultation:
Alternatively you can take the quick and free online Business Health Check, which helps you identify gaps in your business that could benefit from business advice. From there you can connect to a BLP approved advisor in your country and access subsidised business advice.