Winning the Best Agribusiness of the Year title at the National SME Awards 2025 has marked a major milestone for young entrepreneur Avishay Singh, who says the recognition has strengthened his confidence and opened new opportunities for his growing business.

Speaking after receiving the award at the Grand Pacific Hotel on Friday night, Singh said the achievement came as a surprise but would help raise the profile of his business and its products.

“I feel really excited. To achieve this has been really good for me and my business. It gives us a greater platform to showcase more of our products, help the business grow and reach more markets in the future,” he said.

Singh said the experience of participating in the awards had also allowed him to connect with new people and gain valuable knowledge.

While celebrating the recognition, Singh is already focused on expanding his operations. What began with just three employees has now grown to a team of ten, with the business also providing practical training opportunities for university students studying agriculture.

He said the students receive hands-on experience and are well-positioned to join the company as it continues to grow.

“As the business grows, we’ll need more employees. The students we train already understand our procedures and how we operate, so it’s easier to bring them into the business,” he said.

Singh believes mentoring young people is just as important as growing the business itself.

He said seeing a young entrepreneur succeed gives students confidence that they too can build successful businesses.

Looking ahead, Singh plans to use the momentum from the award to expand the company’s operations. The business has recently secured a larger warehouse and freezer storage facility and is now working towards supplying wider markets and eventually exporting its products.

He also plans to increase production by expanding the company’s farm operations to meet rising local demand.

“Our current farm operations are not enough to sustain the demand in the local market. We want to grow our production while also preparing to enter export markets,” he said.

The winner also encouraged more young Fijians to consider agriculture as a career and business opportunity, saying the sector offers enormous potential.

“There are a lot of opportunities for young people in Fiji, especially in agribusiness. There is support available for businesses, but you need the right mindset and determination. If young people take up agriculture, they can build successful businesses and contribute to the national economy,” Singh said.