Page 69 - KZN Leaders Portfolio E-BOOK 2107

Chief Executive Officer at Shree Property Holdings Shree said, “The company named the Park after me
because my name means life, and they felt that I would
RAN SHREE, grew up in a family business and has bring life and momentum to the north coast. I see
been involved in it since the age of 14. Shree said this as a sizeable achievement personally because the
that he had sought much inspiration for his career majority of property investors had their reservations
Pfrom his father, Shree and his mother, Savathree about the Dube TradePort, but I envisioned it to be
who were entrepreneurial by nature. He continued, “My a success.”
personal drive was fuelled by the need for job creation and In 2016, Pran Park was completed and tenanted,
observing the impact it had on a single employee being securing more than R1,3 billion in Foreign Direct
able to feed a household.
Investment and creating more than 2 000 long-term
“My wife Annisha and I grew our retail butcher into employment opportunities in the area north of Durban.
a wholesale meat business, then we increased our cold
“I think it’s imperative that we become a business
storage business into a large storage facility for citrus for six and investor friendly country. It is important to enable
months in a year. During our off-season period, with the business to fast track applications and permits in order
unemployed staff component of 250 people, and being to enhance growth and development with specific
supported avidly by Annisha, together we founded our
business Shree Property Holdings,” said Shree. reference to the construction industry. The future of
success lies in the hands of Public Private Partnerships
He said that the most prized highlight of his business life (PPP), and these government institutions along with
is working with his family. Shree says, “I not only get to private investors attaining the single goal of society
be a husband and dad, but I get to share my professional enhancement and economic growth. I foresee KZN
life with my wife and children. When I wake up in the becoming a larger contributor to the South African GDP
morning, I get to chase my passion and spend time with and this increase in momentum will be highly valuable
my family.” for business owners in this province,” concluded Shree.

He further commented, “Working in a family business has After moving the company’s focus into the commercial
added to our success as we all focus on our strengths and it and residential markets, Pran Boulevard is the first
enhances the business as a whole. Since we are a family run commercial building to be built. Pran Boulevard will
business, this ethos spills over into our company culture, and bring a new light to the Ridgeside Precinct as well as
as a result our staff members are also treated as family and introduce a new standard of Premium Grade office
team players. I was exposed to a highly autocratic leadership space. Pran Boulevard will be the new head office for
style and implemented this in my own business but once the Shree Property Holdings and the new home for KPMG
younger generation joined the business, I saw how beneficial Durban, as the anchor tenant.
a democratic leadership style was.”
Woodmead in Shakaskraal and Pran Park – Shakaskraal
Shree commented that in order to remain an employee are two new projects taken on by Shree Property
of choice, “It is necessary to adapt to diversity and Holdings as a large mixed development of residential,
transformation by enabling mentorship and sharing my commercial and industrial, spanning over 400 hectares.
knowledge and experience.” He said, “Today I can proudly The residential development of 4 000 homes will be
say I have a hand-picked team that has the necessary skills, aimed at middle-income earners complemented by a
knowledge and personalities to operate my business and commercial development. Pran Park – Shakaskraal is
complement its culture.” being developed to house manufacturing facilities that
will create jobs for the KwaDukuza area.
Growing the business was not easy in its early stages.
Shree said, “When I founded my business in 1984, Shree said, “The impact created by business sustainability
as an Indian businessman, it was difficult as I was not is for us not only to manage our triple bottom line, but to
participating in a free market environment. The secret implement a green initiative strategy through our product
to my success lies simply in the fact that I am highly offering, that shall ensure the longevity of our business. The
passionate about what I do and as a result am able to work opportunity arose for us to invest more initial capital into
hours on end without realising the time.” our buildings making them green rated and equipped with
solar panel systems and water conservation systems etc.
In recent years, Shree Property Holdings has notched
up much success. The company operated the largest This is massively demanded by blue chip clients looking to
solely owned cold storage facility comprising 23 000 achieve their own business sustainability.”
pallet positions from 2002-2012 in the southern When not working, Shree enjoys cycling and jet skiing.
hemisphere. In addition, Pran Park at Dube TradePort He concluded, “I also enjoy spending quality time with
has been established. This facility has a total land area my wife and children outside of the business. My wife
of 150 000 square metres, comprising six state of the is my best friend and confidant. As a family we enjoy
art manufacturing facilities that produce goods ranging travelling together and of course, my most expensive
from electronics to health devices. hobby is my love for sports cars.”

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