On 15th May, the Faculty of Business took MBA year 1 students on a visit to enterprises in Jiangmen. Dr. Eva Khong, Executive Associate Dean of FOB, and Dr. Ge Mei acted as chaperones. They visited Ahlstrom Machinery Co., Ltd., and Yatai Technology Co., Ltd. Dr. Lin Faqiu, Security Director of the Jiangmen Small and Medium Enterprises Bureau, and Dr. Yu Xuehua, a Provincial Government Counselor, welcomed the FOB teachers and students.
Jiangmen is located at the main axis of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area, which means is enjoys special advantages in geography and humanity in terms of the background of The Belt and Road Initiative. Mr. Feng Shizhong, General Manager of Ahlstrom Machinery Co., Ltd, described the history and development of the company, its recent challenges, and trends in manufacturing industries. Mr. Feng guided FOB teachers and students around the workshop, as they learned more about its mechanical operations and the retailing side, and patiently answered questions from students.
After lunch, Mr. Zheng Jianyong, Chairman of Yatai Techonology Co., Ltd. welcomed FOB teachers and students, describing the development and high-tech techniques of Automatic Polishing Machines, how the company has changed, and the directions in which it is developing.
FOB teachers and students visited the service lounge of Jiangmen Small and Medium Enterprises to learn about the policies and services that the government provides, including: Information Platform, Specific Financial Plan and Module, and consultancy companies which provide advice and solutions on crisis management. In addition, Dr. Yu Xuehua, a representative of the Provincial People's Congress and a Provincial Government Counselor, delivered a speech on contemporary global and national economic developments and trends. Despite a downturn in private (non-governmental) investment, the bright side for China’s economic development is that new demand and consumption will increase and drive the supply side. Dr. Yu also introduced the specialties and development of Jiangmen city.
MBA students thanked the Faculty for offering this opportunity to meet with top provincial government officials and heads of enterprises, and study real enterprises on the factory floor. They learnt a great deal and look forward to participating in future Faculty activities.