Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
TIANJIN, May 13 (Xinhua) — Sipping coffee in her office in the Tianjin Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ), 36-year-old Russian Svetlana Olkhovikova is intently checking information on orders from partners in Russia, Uzbekistan and other countries.
With her excellent command of Chinese and experience in foreign trade, she established and registered two foreign trade companies in Tianjin, a port city in northern China.
Tianjin Ruidehe Machinery Trading Company, founded in September 2023, is engaged in the export of agricultural machinery, and Hesu Biopharmaceutical Company, established in March 2024, is engaged in cross-border trade in medical equipment and components.
“Both companies have already established cooperation with enterprises in more than 20 countries and regions around the world, including Russia, Kazakhstan and the Republic of Korea,” Svetlana said fluently in Chinese.
“China has been the best era for entrepreneurship for me,” she added. From choosing an office location to registering companies, from extending a work visa to home service when opening a bank account, she was always amazed by the efficiency of the local government and its humane approach to entrepreneurs.
As a foreign entrepreneur, she had to learn Chinese laws and the tax system, which was not easy, but the government’s service provision gave her confidence and peace of mind.
“My grandfather used to say that the hospitality of the Chinese is like a flame that never goes out. By creating my business in Tianjin, I finally realized that this is not an exaggeration, but a reality,” the businesswoman shared.
In choosing China for business, she valued not only the favorable business environment, but also the country’s mega-market, sophisticated production and supply chain system, and ever-improving conditions for innovation.
“The Chinese market is huge, many quality products are becoming increasingly popular abroad. People from all over the world can find many development opportunities here,” said S. Olkhovikova. During her entrepreneurial activities, she deepened her understanding of China’s economic development and strengthened her confidence in the “Made in China” brand.
“Our cooperation with Chinese companies is going very smoothly. Chinese partners are pragmatic and efficient, produce inexpensive and high-quality goods, and offer customized solutions – all thanks to China’s powerful production capabilities and high level of professionalism,” the entrepreneur stated with confidence.
Svetlana’s family, believing that China has enormous development potential, fully supports her business ventures. “My uncle runs an agricultural processing company in Russia, and my company in China can supply him with high-quality equipment, especially powerful tractors,” she continued.
Svetlana spent her childhood in a village a few hundred kilometers from Moscow. Her father was a farmer, her mother taught at school, and Svetlana, who was raised by her grandmother, often heard stories about China. “My grandmother said that the Chinese are kind, my grandfather told me about the Confucian principle of ‘the joy of meeting a friend who has come from afar’, and my uncle advised: ‘Only by acquiring more knowledge can we expand our horizons’,” she said.
In 2005, S. Olkhovikova entered Voronezh State University /VSU/ to major in International Relations. Learning about China from books and lectures, she became interested in this country.
In 2008, she first came to China on a six-month Chinese language program organized by Qingdao University and VSU. Later, while working for a Russian trading company, she became even more fascinated with China thanks to active business contacts with Chinese partners.
Years later, after careful consideration, Svetlana decided to pursue an MBA at Tianjin University. She was attracted by the university’s rich history and recognized the practical value of its curriculum for researching China’s economic development. She visited agricultural machinery manufacturing plants in Tianjin to explore the potential for Sino-Russian cooperation in the agricultural sector through the “customization of production plus localization of services” format.
Now that she has established her business in China, she continues to implement this idea. Despite being very busy, Svetlana continues to persistently study Chinese and get to know the country better.
“There are many opportunities in China. The openness and inclusiveness here provide fertile ground for enterprising people from all over the world. The Chinese say that if the circumstances are right, expressed in the right time, the right place and the support of the people, people around you will lend a helping hand if you boldly seize the opportunities of the times,” she added.
“I believe that a wonderful future awaits me. And I am ready to contribute to the promotion of cooperation between Russia and China,” Svetlana said. -0-