Team sprouts business networking venue

By Betty Lin

THE first meeting of a non-profit club providing social professional networking within the international Zhuhai business community, knowledge and experience sharing and opportunities to become aware of different industries took place at the RUDE Bar on Lian'an Road, Gongbei, Friday evening.

Fifty representatives from multinational firms and local businesses showed up to launch the Zhuhai Biz Exchange,

Major activities planned are monthly factory visits and events every last Friday evening of a month. Members will review their most-recent factory visit and network. Furthermore, an Internet portal will provide an activity calendar and forum for questions and discussions, ideas and initiatives, according to the club profile.

Despite the growing number of multinationals, local companies and entrepreneurs, there is no effective platform for networking and sharing of experiences, the profile says.

Wim de Jager from Holland and senior project manager of Philips Domestic Appliance && Personal Care Co (DAP), said he met Jan-Teun Boerma, managing director of VOSTA LMG (Zhuhai) Ltd, also from Holland, a few weeks ago discussing living in China. They surprisingly found many of the same challenges: quality, project management, logistics, misunderstandings from headquarters, and how to cope with cultural differences. Spontaneously, they came up with the idea to share with a group.

"Yes. Why struggle alone? Why reinvent the wheel? Why don't we share business experiences in a pleasant environment, a beer, a meal, a Friday evening at RUDE," commented Boerma.

"There are more and more foreigners in Zhuhai. But it's only incidentally we met together," said Hans Wienigk, a young Dane who has lived in Zhuhai for two years. He is the head of machine building at Coloplast (China) Ltd in the Free Trade Zone. "There are lots of people -- general managers, engineers, product managers, managing directors -- they share similar mistakes, but we don't even inform each other. It's a perfect time we have to talk about the situation now," he added.

Problems they share include recruitment, salary, competences, skills, reporting to headquarters, quality issues, communicating in China, containing intellectual property, locating and retaining talent, analytical skills and technical rigor, managing perceptions across continents, translation of western approach to local conditions for realization, knowledge management and so on.

"We want to meet informally, have a beer or a meal. We expect once a month we organize a factory visit so that we can look at each others' factories, discuss the subjects which are on our mind and share experiences. We expect it'll make us more successful," said Boerma.

Devin Nelson, engineering manager of Philips (DAP) of Zhuhai, agreed that there is much to share among foreigners. For example, he said, knowledge about working and doing business in China; cultural, business, technical and quality issues; and being a foreigner in China. The Seattle man has lived in Zhuhai for two years. "A lot of us are here for two or three years. You take a year to figure things out but when you've gotten used to it, then you're gone. That's a waste," he said.

"Yes, we want to share expertise," said De jager. "If we have somebody with special knowledge about this area or whatever, we definitely want to hold some gatherings here or interview some specific company," he said. It helps individuals and companies as well, as foreigners spend a lot of time -- maybe several months -- to pick things up on their own, and meanwhile, they have to work hard to meet the requirements in a new position, according to Nelson.

At the monthly meeting, speakers relay items of common interest to everyone. Most-welcome topics include the Asian situation, environment, culture, and certain customs or habits, pointed out Wienigk. It's open for everyone, not only foreigners, but also Chinese, as they may have answers for some questions, he explained.

Heidi Staub, general manager of Kurtz Zhuhai Manufacturing Ltd in Sanzao, embraced the establishment of the Zhuhai Biz Exchange. "We like a casual, informal event where people can talk more. They can talk about business, or for those who are not interested in business, they can make friends," she said.

Todd Flanagan, principal of Zhuhai International School on Qi'ao Island, called it a good platform for people to do business, meet each other and socialize. "We all work hard. We could have a sort of hour to relax and a drink with people you want to see," he said.

"We have high-ranking people, low-ranking people and everything between," said Wim, hoping that through the informal gathering, people could meet and discuss anything. It might spark inspiration in a certain way, he noted.

The five co-initiators, Wim, Wienigk, Boerma, Nelson and JJ Verdun, operator of expat9.com, gave presentations at the gathering, highlighting their own companies, clarifying perspectives on setting up this club, challenges they share and objectives they wish to fulfill.

The opening of the club was a success, and it was a good start, said Verdun. Foreigners find it somewhat difficult to live in China and they need to share information and experiences in some way. The club, by focusing on monthly gatherings, factory visits and online forums or BBS, will meet the needs of the international community in living, working and doing business in China, he noted. He added that the founders will meet on Tuesday to refine everything related to activities.

The first factory visit will be to MTU Maintenance Zhuhai on January 21. People are encouraged to sign up on site or on expat9.com for the event.