The QI Group charters a unique course through the complex waters of global commerce. While many companies specialize in a single industry, the QI Group has taken a different path, integrating a wide array of interests.

From a modest start in 1998, founders Vijay Eswaran and Joseph Bismark built the Hong Kong-registered  QI Group into a global powerhouse. What began as a direct selling and e-commerce venture has become a unique empire stretching across industries and continents, pushing the boundaries of traditional business models with its wide-ranging operations and forward-thinking initiatives.

What Is the Work of QI Group?

The work of the QI Group encompasses a diverse range of business activities and investments across multiple sectors worldwide focusing on strategic ventures in wellness and lifestyle, education, travel and leisure, luxury goods, and retail.

Through its investment arm, QI Capital, the organization invests in various portfolio companies in Malaysia, Sri Lanka, India, Hong Kong, New Zealand, the U.K., and the U.S.A. The company has invested in financial services organizations, education, telecommunications, Swiss watchmaking, natural food retailers, hospitality management, and an online marketplace.

This multifaceted approach has allowed QI Group to establish a presence in more than 30 countries, with a global workforce exceeding 2,000 individuals from nearly 50 nationalities.

QI Group's direct selling strategy eliminates intermediaries, directly linking the company and consumers. This model opens up earning possibilities for individual distributors and fosters a more intimate connection between the company and its clientele. By cutting out traditional retail intermediaries, QI Group can better understand and respond to customer needs while offering entrepreneurial opportunities to its network of distributors.

Beyond its business operations, QI Group has made significant strides in corporate social responsibility through its RYTHM Foundation. Since 2005, the foundation has collaborated with over 135 global partners on more than 75 strategic projects. These initiatives have positively impacted 63,000 women and young females and benefited over 17,000 youth and children across various communities.

Investing in Future Generations and Expansion

Quest International University, a vibrant academic institution in the state of Perak, Malaysia, is the company's foray into education. Launched in 2011, QIU has rapidly evolved into a hub of diverse learning, offering a spectrum of programs from medicine to information technology at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

The university's educational philosophy goes beyond traditional academics. QIU champions a holistic approach, blending classroom learning with real-world experiences. Students engage in a rich tapestry of extracurricular pursuits, hone essential soft skills, and gain invaluable clinical and industrial exposure. The institution's unique technopreneurship training prepares graduates for the challenges of a global marketplace.

In just over a decade, QIU has become a melting pot of global talent, attracting students from approximately 39 different nations. This international mix creates a dynamic learning environment, fostering cross-cultural understanding and global perspectives.

The QI Group's commitment to education extends beyond QIU. The company recently partnered with a leading Malaysian bank to raise funds to expand QIU's new campus through a $21.48 million (approximately 100 million Malaysian ringgit) Sukuk Ijarah program. This Islamic financing approach marks QI Group's first entry into Malaysia's capital markets.

On the retail front, QI Group operates Down to Earth, a health food retail chain based in Hawaii. Down to Earth specializes in organic and vegetarian products, offering a wide range of natural and organic foods, dietary supplements, and other health products. The chain actively engages in community education through vegetarian cooking classes and nutrition seminars in schools and hospitals. This approach aligns with QI Group's mission of promoting wellness and sustainable living.

In the luxury sector, QI Group owns Cimier, a prestigious Swiss watch brand with a century-long heritage. Cimier, celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2024, continues producing opulent timepieces that merge traditional Swiss watchmaking techniques with contemporary design elements. QI Group's lineup also includes the Bernhard H. Mayer Collection, which offers exclusive watches and jewelry through QI Group's distribution channels.

QI Group has also ventured into the travel and leisure industry, managing properties and services in various locations. The company operates boutique hotels and resorts in Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Turkey, focusing on eco-tourism.

Prana Resort Nandana, nestled in Koh Samui, Thailand, stands out among QI Group's hospitality ventures. The resort's dedication to eco-friendly practices earned it the prestigious gold rating from the Green Hotel Standard, a certification granted by Thailand's Department of Environmental and Quality Promotion. Prana's innovative approach to sustainability blends sumptuousness with environmental consciousness. Guests experience cutting-edge green initiatives, from paperless check-ins to QR code menus, while savoring dishes prepared with locally sourced ingredients — all part of the resort's strategy to minimize its environmental impact while maximizing guest satisfaction.

From its inception in the Far East, QI Group has methodically expanded its global footprint. The company began by establishing robust operations in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, subsequently branching out across South Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Central Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. This calculated expansion strategy has positioned QI Group as a truly international enterprise.

QI Group is committed to ethical and sustainable business practices. The company has set ambitious targets for 2025, including implementing stringent sourcing protocols for corporate gifts and branded merchandise. These guidelines prioritize social responsibility and ethical considerations, reflecting the company's commitment to conscientious business practices.

Sustainability remains a top priority for QI Group. The company is rolling out comprehensive standards for eco-friendly packaging across its diverse operations, underscoring its dedication to reducing environmental impact. This initiative aligns with QI Group's broader commitment to the U.N.'s Sustainability Development Goals.

The Green Legacy program exemplifies QI Group's proactive approach to environmental stewardship. This initiative goes beyond mere conservation, actively combating climate change through large-scale tree-planting efforts.

Tree-planting initiatives offer critical support to the countless individuals who depend on forests for subsistence farming, traditional remedies, and basic shelter. These programs bolster community resilience by encouraging sustainable forest-based agriculture, rejuvenating depleted woodlands, and implementing eco-friendly practices. Such efforts restore vital ecosystems and enhance local populations' economic stability, creating a symbiotic relationship between people and their natural surroundings.

QI Group's approach to business is guided by its core values of integrity, service, sustainability, and leadership. These values form the foundation of the company's ethical framework and guide its interactions within the marketplace, with its stakeholders, and the environment. While facing the complexities of operating in diverse markets, the corporation continues to focus on its mission of empowering people and communities while driving growth across its various sectors of operation.