Source: Yiwu sourcing agent Author: Date: 2008-12-30
With the development of market internationalization,over ten thousand foreign businessmen from over one hundred countries were attracted to live and purchase in Yiwu . Though they are from different countries and own different cultures,they all
fall in love with the"rattle drum" culture and the city of Yiwu which is characterized by its geographic features . Two were selected for interview from the earliest registered agencies of foreign enterprises and the earliest foreign businessmen in Yiwu.
Wen Richeng ——friendship envoy between China and Korea Korean businessman Wen Richeng was struck deeply by his business experience in Yiwu . He studied foreign trade and marketing in the university and was introduced to Yiwu by friends in 1993 .
As the first Korean businessman in Yiwu market,he had a deep feeling that language was of vital importance to the business in
Yiwu market . During the daytime, he was busy purchasing and handling the export customs declaration formalities and at night he busily engaged in Chinese learning . He learned some sentences for business in several months and made some friends in the market and his business was more prosperous every day .
Before the annual Yiwu Fair, Wen tried his best to spare time to make communications: accompanying the investigation group consisting of Yiwu governm entand enterprises representatives to invite investment and make publicity; broadcasting a TV special program China Yiwu in Korean national TV station to introduce the China Yiwu Commodities City and the investment environment in detail,so that a China fever gripped the Korean industrial and commercial circles .
The Korean groups could be found in every Yiwu Fair in October . What touched him more was that he was invited to attend the
People’s Congress as an observer. Eighteen years passed by and Yiwu has beenh is second hometown. He spent 300 days in Yiwu a year these years and now he has rented two stores in the second phase of the International Trade Mart which could offer
coordinated services .
Nowadays Koreans have been the largest group of foreign businessmen in Yiwu. It is learned that there are over 8,000 Koreans in Yiwu now. Korean language could be found in every street and lane in Yiwu as well as in restaurants and grocery stores . Authentic Korean barbecue,pickled vegetable and rice wine could also be enjoyed here.
Wen said,"I was deeply in love with Yiwu now . I had my home here . In order to adapt to the life here I read Yiwu Business,
Jinhua Daily,Zhejiang Daily every day and watch news on CCTV,ZJTV and YWTV. I have integrated into this city now and it is a great joy to make contributions to the development of Yiwu market and the friendship between China and Korea . "
Halid —— —continuator of rattle drum culture
Halid is one of the earliest foreign businessmen coming to Yiwu . He not only makes fortune but also becomes a learner and
continuator of Yiwu rattle culture .
Halid,born in Pakistan in September of 1963,had been to France for study and came to China and studied in Xinjiang University in 1987. He came to Yiwu for the first time in 1993 .
And the prosperous market and busy people made him impressed and determined to do business in Yiwu . The next year,he came
again,and this time he rented rooms in Honglou Guesthouse beside the Huangyuan Market , starting his"Yiwu —international"
trip .
Soon,he registered company and established his customers in many countries like Pakistan, Russia,Britain and UAE. Halid
thought Yiwu was more dynamic than other Chinese markets,and he began to study the origin and prosperity of Yiwu market .
In reply to the question "Why are you so interested in rattle drum culture？",Halid said that one couldn’t make fortune if he didn’t know the customs, practices and culture of that nation,which meant the same as the Chinese saying "Know the
enemy and know yourself,and you will fight a hundred battles without danger of defeat". In 18 years of business in Yiwu,Halid has made many friends and become a trader with Yiwu spirit .
Every year,Halid is invited by the local government to participate in Yiwu People’s Congress and foreign businessmen symposium . He said that inviting foreign people to attend the People’s Congress indicated the fast going opening up of China and its real democracy . This action makes him feel the warmth of a large family and he feels the responsibility to
contribute to the sustainable development of the city .
Open Yiwu makes progress with each passing day . Culture, the soul of city,permeates the international commodities world . Foreigners are eager to learn the Chinese language from all walks of life . In contrast, Yiwu people have great interest to study English,Korean,and Arabic . The whole city is full of business atmosphere as well as exoticism .
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