Sakib Awan: A Short Appraisal
by Peter Anderson, Business consultant
August, 2018
In 1776 the Scottish philosopher and economist Adam Smith wrote a seminal book entitled ‘An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations’. The work had profound impacts around the globe. Essentially it presented a compelling case for laissez-faire philosophies—such as minimising the role of government intervention and taxation in free markets—and the idea that an ‘invisible hand’ guides private sector market supply and demand to the betterment of the whole of society.
Alternatively stated, Smith argued that private enterprise, unfettered by bureaucratic controls, would in its natural state work towards generation of ‘the wealth of nations’ without the need for any overarching plan to bring this about.
During the 26 years or so in which I have known Sakib Awan and his family, I increasingly came to the view that he personified the spirit of private endeavour as championed by Smith, and I witnessed his commercial success gradually emerge over a long period of consistent hard work and a dogged determination to succeed in what were often very difficult and occasionally dangerous circumstances.
From very humble beginnings, Sakib took a confident leap into the unknown when he left the security of executive employment in the Australian hospitality industry and set out to establish his own businesses.
Commencing with very small premises from which he pursued the challenging task of exporting Northern Territory seafood, at a very early point in the emerging development of Timor Leste he established a commercial foothold in Dili well before the independence of the tiny nation was a certainty.
By pursuing one opportunity after another, with pure hard work and great support from wife Neelo, slowly the business which has become the East Timor Trading group [ETT] went from strength to strength, such that today it is a very significant employer in the Timor Leste private sector, generating income and wealth for local and international staff alike whilst providing a growing range of services in local markets.
ETT has almost single-handedly introduced new levels of sophistication in the various market sectors in which it is active, and can without hesitation claim to be a prominent role model for private sector contribution to the new nation of Timor Leste.
Again, none of this could have happened without sheer enterprise, drive and work, work, work. Luck of course comes along from time to time, but not all of it is good luck, and ETT has certainly had its share of issues along the way.
One of Sakib’s outstanding qualities is the way he deals with staff and stakeholders alike : all are important. The most junior or unskilled employee has always received the same respect and consideration as anyone else, whether senior ETT management, customers, government officials at all levels, or others. As such, he has generated significant long-term loyalty—a great and necessary strength for any enduring corporation, but one which can never be taken for granted. It must be worked on consistently, and Sakib has been outstanding in this respect.
Sakib is someone who consistently generates a vast repertoire of new ideas. Not all work, as is always the case with private enterprise : but enough do work and have become new sources of employment and income to make ETT the success it is today.
His story, and that of his supportive and industrious family, would make an excellent case study for anyone inquiring into the nature of private sector business success. Textbook stuff on how to succeed no matter what the odds.
Peter Anderson