Optiven ventures into hospitality in bid to create more jobs

Real estate firm – Optiven, has unveiled an ambitious plan which they say is aiming to create more than 30,000 jobs by the year 2030, according to CEO George Wachiuri.

The firm, on Thursday, launched a modern restaurant named GMC, Wachiuri emphasizing that they had the venture is the first step of their strategy of diversifying their business structure.

“You know real estate only cannot create all these jobs that we are talking about. Through our passionate and resilient team that we have, we decided to build a hospitality brand from scratch,” said Wachiuri when they officially opened doors to the new restaurant based at the Karen Waterfront mall.

“We have GMC Kitengela now we are launching GMC Karen. We are looking forward to having more of this brand. “

GMC hospitality is set to launch two more restaurants – one in Nairobi’s outskirts Ruai area and another at Kantafu (Machakos County).

According to George Wachiuri, the hospitality business will play a major role in adding to the job creation basket by Optiven Limited. He says in the near future, the largest of the GMC businesses will be launched in Nanyuki as the company looks through to opening up the brand in every county.

“This is an African brand built from scratch by us, we are going to build this brand and open up branches in the African content we will go to other African countries. With this brand we will make sure that we export our culture out there.”

According to Wachiuri, the GMC franchise is designed to “cater for the family and work needs of the customers”.

“The GMC facility has been structured with worktops and conference rooms for the customers looking for a place to dine and work. On the same breath a facility that caters for the children games and care is part of the restaurants, as parents and guardians have their time in the restaurant.

“George Wachiuri is one of the African entrepreneurs whose aim is to create opportunities for the young generation. When I see this facility my happiness is not because we have this facility, my joy is when I see 50 plus people benefiting from this vision.”

Wachiuri also challenged the policy makers to make friendly policies that support the entrepreneurs. He also challenged the government to come up with a strategy to help budding businesses grow.

He urged the government to consider a tax waiver for start ups for three years to help them stabilize and have good books before they start paying for license and taxes.