The new Forbes Africa March issue has landed on shelf today, featuring Botswana based multi-millionaire Ramachandran Ottapathu. Retail King, Ramachandran, arrived in Botswana with $20 in his pocket and built a $300 Million empire.
Ramachandran Ottapathu left India for an accounting job in Botswana, a small country he knew little about. This country soon stole his heart and rewarded him with wealth. Ramachandran Ottapathu arrived here with a taxi fare and marched across Africa to become a retail king. This just shows it can be done, no matter who you are, where you’re from or what your circumstances are.
Ramachandran (Ram) Ottapathu is the CEO of the Choppies Group, a multinational grocery and general merchandise retailer, with over 100 stores in Botswana, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. Headquartered in Gaborone, the company is listed on the Botswana Stock Exchange and is the country’s largest retailer.
Have a purpose and dream in your life and pursue that dream relentlessly. Don’t think that you are going to get their quickly, but you will get there if you really pursue it with your whole heart.
