Herald: Where you always focussed on joining the family business?
Vishnu Tarkar: Well my great grandfather who was also called Vishnu Tarkar started the business during Portuguese times. I am the fourth generation. He was the biggest importer in the state. He brought in everything from soaps to automobiles which we did when my grandfather took over. I am part of this family which has a history which is quite noteworthy. My interest was always there and I wanted to make a mark. At 17, I became the youngest Honda bike dealer in the world when we took up that dealership in 1999 and started selling in 2000. The path was there for me to take and I was keen.
Herald: As someone from a business family, was there pressure to follow the path that was laid out or was there freedom to find your way?
VT: Remember I took up the Honda dealership at 17, so that was something that was new for the group. And this has happened repeatedly. In between we had a Tata car dealership and then we now have the Panjim Community Centre, again something new. It is something like the Talegoa Community Centre but it is upmarket with the kind of finishing reminiscent of what one would find in Hyatt or other five star properties. Open at Mala, it can accommodate up to 1000 chairs theatre style seating and 400 chairs round table seating. It was an opportunity I saw existed when I looked around and realised that existing facilities were booked for the next two years. It boasts of the largest free private parking space in Panjim city. The introductory price for the first 100 bookings is meant to be Rs 60,000 plus tax.
Herald: What are the companies in your group and what is the turnover?
VT: I am the MD in the Vistar Constructions which is into construction of buildings; Vistar Ventures which is into leasing of prime commercial spaces to showrooms, shops, warehouses and factories; Vistar Motors Goa the authorised dealers for Tata Motors and Vistar Honda-Authorised dealers for Honda Motorcycles and Scooters. We have established a market in Baga called the Baga Bazar which has three restaurants and 70 odd shops. Our turnover is well in excess of 40 crore.
Herald: What are the challenges of doing business in Goa?
VT: It takes a lot of time to get permissions which is a headache. It would be nice to have all clearances from a single window. Then you have to understand that the population is very small and spread out which means one has to have outlets around the state if one has to expand business. I feel the tax system has to be simplified.
Herald: What are your plans for the future?
VT: I would like to focus on my construction business and focus on building bungalows since I am a civil engineer.
