23 Aug 2015

Mr Christian Meela is a graduate of Limkokwing University and a proud owner of Gwanyong Investments, a company that repairs computers, design web sites and logos, and print T- shirts, among other things.

In an interview with BOPA, the 31-year-old entrepreneur said the secret behind the success of any business is patience, hard work and perseverance, because good results cannot be achieved in a day.

Armed with an associate degree in Information Technology from Limkokwing University, Mr Meela said he started his business in  May 2012 using his own funds before obtaining a further P98 000 funding from the Youth Development Fund (YDF) in November 2014.

He said with the government funding, his business started to grow in leaps and bounds as he managed to acquire all the necessary equipment needed for a company to fully operate.

 Today, Gwanyong Investments has provided employment to three youths on a permanent basis and a further two undergraduates on attachment and internship, he says.

The young entrepreneur added that he markets his business through social media, word of mouth, flyers and signage, and that he has managed to secure a lucrative contract to service and repair computers for Zac Construction Company, which is constructing access roads and storm water networks in Bobonong.

“I am proud that the service I offer to my clients makes them happy because they often come back for more,” he points out, adding that his biggest challenge is the lack of a business plot.

He said some business plot owners target youth entrepreneurs by charging them high rentals because land in very scarce Bobonong.

Youth businesses, he said could only survive if they got support from the central and local government departments through liberalized tenders.

Mr Meela was concerned that government departments in the area were not willing to award tenders to youth businesses, preferring instead, to award them to companies outside the sub-district.

Despite the challenge, he called on young entrepreneurs to be patient if they want to realise their dream of becoming big future business people.

Mr Meela also encouraged youth to enter into partnerships so that they share the few customers that are available and also to bring together their ideas that could make their businesses to grow. Ends