The Western Connect Magazine had the opportunity to sit down with Abdul Majeed, Chairman, and Managing Director of Bison Maldives, to discuss his journey in the resort and building construction sector of the Maldives. Bison Maldives is a leading player in the industry and has been involved in the construction of several large projects over the past 20 years. In this interview, Mr. Majeed talks about his humble beginnings, the industry’s challenges, and the future of Bison Maldives.
Can you provide us with some information about your professional journey until now?
My initial involvement with resort development commenced in 1990 when I first embarked on developing Mahchafushi resort with many challenges, which inspired me to get more involved in the resort development business. After completing successful projects, I commenced Bison Maldives in 2002 on a small scale and gradually developed it into a leading player in the construction sector in Maldives.
Bison’s business portfolio is impressive. What have been some of the company’s most noteworthy achievements?
- President’s Gold Award for outstanding contribution to the tourism industry awarded to Bison Maldives in October 2022
- Corporate Maldives – Gold 100 company from 2016-2021
- Corporate Maldives Lifetime Award for Mr. Abdul Majeed – 2021
- South Asia Travel Award for the Best Boutique Hotel awarded to Reveries Diving Village – 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
- Maldives Travel Award for Reveries Diving Village – 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
- Maldives Business Award – Winner
- Inspirational Leader of the Year 2018 – Mr. Abdul Majeed.
What are the biggest challenges you have faced in recent years?
There are two factors that we find challenging when working in the Maldives. One is the need for more skilled technical and managerial staff and skilled/semi-skilled workers. It takes time to find the numbers we require locally. Therefore, as usual with the whole industry, the only option is to recruit from abroad. Here the challenge is the pay scale to keep up with the competition, where most clients prefer the lowest contract price when awarding a contract. Secondly, as mentioned above, most clients seek the lowest contract price. This hinders us from sourcing the expertise we would like to have.
What can we expect from Bison in the future? What’s next?
We aim to expand ourselves internationally further. On top of our existing business partnerships with companies from abroad in our ventures here in the Maldives, we have developed our resort and building construction work overseas in Tanzania, where we have commenced work on building an alternative. This would be just the beginning, and we are very confident that we would be able to venture further within the next 2-3 years. Maldives is famous for its tourism and resort hotels, most built by Maldivians. So why not use this expertise internationally to create the same elsewhere? I am confident we can make a mark globally and make Bison a Global Brand.
Do you have any advice for those looking to start their entrepreneurial journey?
Yes, I would say that you need to be passionate about what you do. Starting a business takes work, and there will be many challenges. One must be ready to put in significant effort and dedication to succeed.
In addition, I would advise aspiring entrepreneurs to build strong relationships with their clients and partners. Trust and integrity are crucial to success in any business. You must be transparent and honest and consistently deliver on your promises.
Staying updated with your industry’s latest trends and technologies is also essential. This will help you to stay ahead of the competition and provide innovative solutions to your clients. Lastly, don’t be afraid to take risks and think outside the box. Some of the greatest successes in business have come from taking calculated risks and trying new things. You can achieve great things in your entrepreneurial journey if you stay true to your vision and values.