A BUSINESS EMPIRE AND A COMMUNITY CHAMPION

CPL Group

Listed on the Port Moresby Stock Exchange and enjoying the favourable position as the leading retail, wholesale operation in Papua New Guinea, CPL Group’s geographical spread of outlets have established a foothold for the company in every major city and town. Daemon Sands speaks with Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of CPL Group Mr. Mahesh Patel regarding the company’s history, success and future endeavours.

Founded in 1987 as a pharmacy chain CPL Group have definitely not lost their roots, in fact with the strong leadership of Mahesh they are capitalizing on the strength of the foundation they’ve created through careful planning, development and community growth.

A short list of their business acquisitions include the acquiring of Stop & Shop in 2005, a supermarket chain in Port Moresby which also boasts a fully-fledged bakery operation and in 2008he acquiring of the Hardware Haus chain which includes the Kit Homes business and is a local institution.

There is a saying that you get out of business what you put into it, and I have never seen a company and an individual so dedicated to giving to the community. The success of their products comes from the dedication to their customers and their suppliers. In a move seen only by true men of vision the

company has taken on dilemmas such as logistics in Papa New Guinea and instead of lamenting the problem have tackled it head on and found a solution.

“Getting product from local farmers to the stores was once such a major issue we had

to import the goods from Australia and New Zealand,” Mahesh recalls. “This was partly down to the rugged, difficult to manage terrain, high cost and long timeframes for transportation and much of the farmers’ produce was wasted. We approached this in a solution-finding manner and developed our own aircraft charters and cold storage produce centre to bridge the supply gap between local producers and international supply”

Now, through this strategy they can carry a greater percentage of what the farmers produce, encouraging a demand for them to supply. This knock-on effect is in turn carried by CPL’s approach to providing education, training and development centres to the communities to ensure that all the people have as many advantages that can be provided to them.

City Pharmacy is the leading pharmaceutical company in Papua New Guinea today. Currently we have 31 retail outlets nationwide, with City Pharmacy Badili opening this year and City Pharmacy, Vision City to open soon.Our professionally-trained Pharmacists consist of Papua New Guineans and expatriates, who are there to provide helpful advice on medical and health care products, available in-store.

Find your nearest store on our websitewww.cpl.com.pg

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CPL Group

“Our logistics personnel have over two decades of experience in distribution and marketing in the world and rugged geography of Papua New Guinea,” Mahesh says proudly. “No-one knows the region better than our team and while they’re some of the best drivers they’re also professional problem solvers.”

Rich in natural resources, Papua New Guinea demands specific skills, know-how and understanding to navigate and work there. The management team handles distribution through tropical jungle, mountains and remote, inaccessible landscapes supplying medical and pharmaceutical products as well as general goods to a small but developing market in which nearly half the population is under the age of twenty.

“We use a strong, ethical promotion to maintain customer loyalty,” Mahesh says.

As the biggest purchaser of pharmaceuticals, Papua New Guinea’s Department of Health looks for cost effective medicine, better service and the most efficient response. This is no better illustrated than when recently the Major Hospital in Port Moresby did not have available an urgently require life-saving medicine for a relative of a very senior bureaucrat and Mahesh took it upon himself to find it and source it to her.

CPL Group is not only about being a successful business empire but about strengthening the community foundations from where their customers and employees are garnered.

This has been coalesced into the CPL Foundation which will be launched this year. This is a move to provide education and development training for women and children in rural Papua New Guinea and to strengthen the pool of resources the Papa New Guinea Economy sources from as well as giving them the opportunities to climb the various ranks of the corporate ladders.

“To strengthen the economy of the country you have to strengthen the resources of the people,” Mahesh says, “And education is the greatest resource.”

Forward and “solution finding” thinking is the hallmark of a true leader and CPL Group have conceptualized The PRIDE OF PAPA NEW GUINEA AWARDS for WOMEN to honour the women who do extraordinary things – the unsung heroes of their communities whose contribution to Papua New Guinea life is not widely known to the general public. There are 6 medals to be awarded for the six categories plus prizes relating to the category that they have won. The key, being an ongoing support from CPL for the projects that the recepients have won their awards.

The importance of what Mr. Mahesh Patel and CPL Group to their country is clearly evident when you look at the modern steps this company have taken to improve the prospects of his country.

Papua New Guinea is one of the most culturally diverse countries on Earth, where according to recent data over eight

LOKUMAL have worked with CPL for 25 years. They consolidate all the products that CPL buys from their branches, and also supplies to the South Pacific region, the Caribbean, South America, Nigeria and Ghana. They are very diversified in their supply of products which range from Sundries, Giftware, Household ware, Manchester,etc, to the supermarkets. They also specialize in Hardware and construction materials. They have experienced merchandisers who source from all over the world and not only from their 6 branches.

Endeavour Magazine • January 2013 •

CPL Group

hundred different languages have been listed for the country and there are at least as many traditional societies, out of the population of about 6.2 million. It is also one of the most rural with only eighteen percent living in urban centres. It is also very unexplored both culturally and geographically with many undiscovered species of plants and animals thought to exist within its interior.

Despite, Papa New Guinea being the seventh fastest growing economy in the world, with a strong mining and

resource sector many of its people still live in less than $1.50 a day, with many of them living in traditional societies and practising subsistence-based agriculture.

However, CPL Group offers development without the loss of traditional life and with so much culture available in the country it is considered one of the resources of the country. With access to extensive warehousing in Papua New Guinea and Australia, a reliable network of stores, franchises and the logistical knowhow, CPL Group and its affiliated

CPL Group

companies are in the perfect place to continue making positive developments.

As already mentioned, CPL Group started as a pharmacy and City Pharmacy is the leading pharmaceutical company in Papua New Guinea today with currently thirty one retail outlets nationwide with plans for more openings in future.

“Our professionally trained Pharmacists consists of Papua New Guineans and expatriates,” Mahesh explains, “And are there to provide advice on medical and health care products, available in-store.”

At their heart is a business based on giving back and they provide Papua New Guineans with medicines, health care and beauty products; it is also a very large purchaser of products from other PNG suppliers. The company conducts business with the Government and services hospitals, most mining, gas and petroleum projects, provincial governments and major institutions.

Mahesh considers CPL Group’s service providing, of medical and health care products as its community responsibility and support for the people across the region of Papa New Guinea to have this within reach and use.

“We willingly perform this duty to make the livelihoods of every Papua New Guinean a little bit better, especially for those without adequate medical services and the rural population,” he concludes.

CPL Groupwww.cpl.com.pg+675 312 0000

Written by Daemon Sands

www.littlegatepublishing.com