Taxi driver invests $5,000 to open his own business to overcome the challenges of COVID-19

Taxi driver, Azad Hassan has invested $5,000 to open his own grocery shop – Wrong Turn Corner Shop in Sakoca, Tamavua to overcome the challenges of COVID-19.

The father of three who is originally from Labasa says he dropped out of school due to financial problems and came to Suva when he was 16-years-old and worked as a salesperson in Deluxe Footwear for 10 years.

Hassan says he then worked as a service station attendant and decided to drive a taxi, however, driving a taxi during the COVID-19 pandemic was hard to earn enough income so he thought of starting his own business which will cater for his family and bring in daily income by taking up a loan of $5,000 from the Fiji Development Bank.

Minister for Commerce, Faiyaz Koya applauded Hassan’s efforts while opening the shop and says that small businesses play an important role in creating jobs and recovery of the economy.

Koya says the Fijian Government believes in small businesses because small businesses encourage the creation of jobs and many of the large companies in Fiji began this way.

He adds Hassan’s shop will not only serve the people of the community but also those who will visit Sakoca.