Vijay Construction celebrates 40 years |04 November 2019

Mr Patel addressing his guests during the ceremony (Photos by Thomas Meriton)

Founded in Seychelles in 1979, the Vijay Construction company is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

The company was founded by V. J. Patel, was registered as a company in February 1979 and officially started conducting business in July of the same year.

To mark this milestone, the construction company hosted a dinner function at the Eden Bleu Hotel on Friday attended by its partners and stakeholders which included past and present customers and its suppliers.

Also present were Minister for Health Jean-Paul Adam, Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine Didier Dogley, secretary of state for Foreign Affairs Barry Faure, Indian high commissioner to Seychelles General Dalbir Singh Suhag, and leader of government business in the National Assembly Charles De Commarmond among other high officials.

Prior to the event, Vijay Construction organised a separate celebratory function for its more than 1,500 workers two weeks ago.

Over the four decades, the company has built and commissioned a large number of technically complex and unique facilities such as all of the constructions on Eden Island, the H Resort hotel, Stad Linite, the Anglican Cathedral, the Praslin and La Digue jetties and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) towers.

A total of 30 Vijay Construction employees who have worked with the company for 20 years and more were rewarded for their long years of service and dedication during the reception on Friday.

Paul Louise is the company’s longest serving employee having been with the company as a carpenter for 39 years.

“I feel proud for having served so many years particularly at a construction firm like Vijay Construction. Construction is not an easy sector to work in but Vijay Construction is one of the best companies to work for in Seychelles,” Mr Louise highlighted.

Mr Louise said that he stuck with the company even during the challenging times and accidents.

He further stated that the company helped him in the construction of his house during the time he was forming his family.

“I am encouraging the youths to join this company; not just to work for three to six months and quit, because there is much more value in dedicating your years to a company. You have to start small to get to a lot,” Mr Louise advised.

In his speech during the evening, Mr Patel acknowledged the importance and role of all of his employees particularly the long-serving ones who have “kept us floating”.

Mr Patel also recounted the company’s humble beginnings and history.

“I was the first employee of Vijay Construction and then I had two Seychellois who joined me. Before Vijay Construction was established I was working with Laxmanbhai, the company responsible for bringing me to Seychelles in 1973 from Nairobi to build the Mahé Beach Hotel,” Mr Patel stated.

“I remained with the company for six years, from 1973 to 1979, and then decided to go solo,” he added.

Going solo however proved to be a challenging task, he narrated, particularly when it came to winning tender bids and ensuring that some of their clients pay the company its dues.

To give back to a country that has given him so much, during the function Mr Patel also gave out cheques of R40,000 to 25 public schools, cheques of R40,000 to 15 health clinics as well as four vouchers of R40,000 to the Cascade district, where the company’s headquarters is based.

Also to mark Vijay Construction’s 40 years, 40 of the company’s employees recently donated blood to the Victoria Hospital.

Elsie Pointe