Marc De Schutter: This City Is the First Choice for Many Reasons

lifeofguangzhou.com:  What impressed you most during the working period in Guangzhou?

Marc: The formidable speed of change in all aspects of society is definitely the most impressive fact. It’s not just about visible features as buildings, roads and cars. It’s even more about the intangibles as people’s aspirations for the future, their dreams and ambitions. I believe that is the true driving force behind the progress of this great nation, and it is fearsome indeed.

lifeofguangzhou.com:  Are there any touching stories happened during your working time in Guangzhou?

Marc: I am HR & Admin Manager of Puratos China. I’ve worked with Mr. Marc De Schutter for 10 full years. He is a real gentleman whatever at work or in life. He treats people equally and with great compassionate. It can be reflected in his daily work. He always says: things always work in two ways. If you are good to your people, people will also be good to you.  With this principle, we set up our company culture with a great success. All the managers who joined from the very beginning, they are still working now in the company. When company moved from west of Guangzhou to Panyu, we lost nobody even the local cleaning lady would like to move with the company. Since we set up quite high company operations standard, we almost got no effect by new labour contract law.

lifeofguangzhou.com: As a foreign expert in Guangzhou, do you think what the biggest achievement you have got? What made you feel proudest?

Marc: The establishment and successful growth of a fully foreign owned enterprise from zero to one of the leading companies in the business is an achievement in its own right for the whole team of this company. What made me personally feel proudest is to have build a sustainable development model for the well-being of all our staff and their families, respecting all the stakeholders involved in an enterprise. This goes beyond legally required provisions. It makes me proud to see our staff developing from “apprentices” towards “instructors” within our global corporate world. 

lifeofguangzhou.com: Are there any difficulties when working with your Chinese staff? How did you deal with it? For example, some culture difference.

Marc: Of course there are cultural differences between China and Europe. For instance, in a European model there is a strict and clear separation between “work” and “play”. When at work you really work. When at play you don’t even talk about work. In China it’s different. People play at work, but also work at play. It’s all more relaxed, what does not mean less effective. I needed some time to learn this and sort it out, and honestly, in the beginning it drove me at times “up the curtains”. 

lifeofguangzhou.com: Why did you come to work in Guangzhou?

Marc: After I worked in Xian for some time between 88 and 92 I returned to Belgium. However I missed working in China so much that I was looking for an opportunity to return. My current employer found me and gave me the assignment to start a new enterprise in Guangzhou. This city was the first choice for many reasons, amongst which the food history, availability of well-educated staff, a cooperative government and levels of cost. History has proven that this was the right choice indeed.

lifeofguangzhou.com: How long do you plan to work in Guangzhou?

Marc: As long as possible.

lifeofguangzhou.com: What's your suggestion to Guangzhou city?

Marc: I am thoroughly convinced that the leaders of the city are taking the best decisions for the bright future of Guangzhou. Quality of life here is amongst the best in the country and further improvements are visibly implemented at an astounding pace. In effect, the change is so fast that people in other countries cannot follow to comprehend. Hence the always amazed reactions from visitors. Maybe the city could strengthen further its image as a modern cosmopolis on the world stage, as is currently being done with advertisements for the 2010 Asian Games. On a more local level, I believe that all citizens would significantly benefit from a better education regarding respect for traffic rules, or rules in general for that matter.

Source: lifeofguangzhou.com

Editor: Shanna Chu