Government has called on the private sector to work closely with them to provide small businesses more than just inception assistance but support to maintain sustainable growth.

Minister for Industry and Trade Faiyaz Koya made the comment while opening Vinod Patel’s Home and Living Lautoka branch.

The opening of Vinod Patel’s Lautoka branch is the 15th and has promised to grow this further in the coming years to ensure its customers have easier access to high quality products.

Koya says he sees companies, such as, Vinod Patel and Company Limited taking the role of mentors and working with the Fijian Government to provide the smaller businesses first-hand experience and knowledge of how to work towards becoming a successful business.

Vinod Patel and Company Limited opened its first store in Ba in 1962 and currently are one of the largest locally owned company and have also successfully entered the Pacific market through the exports of their products.