The spring breeze of reform and opening up has 40 years since the beginning of the new decoration and new development are on the fast lane of development. Today, the 61st article of the major theme report "The East Coast of the Tide - The 40 Years of Reform and Opening-up of Ningbo" was launched. "Climbing Dreams Through the Straits " .
Cross the strait to build dreams
people
Chairman of Zhejiang Far East Industrial Development Co., Ltd.
In late autumn, in Yuyao Far East Industrial City, trees are swaying and the river is clear and blue. A couple are taking wedding photos on the lawn. "Look, the camphor tree planted back then is only 5 cm in diameter, but now it is more than 40 cm." Cai Yucheng stood in the office, looking out the green window. Time has passed 26 years.
Cai Yucheng, born in Taichung City, Taiwan in 1948, is the first heir to Chewang Electronics Company, a listed company in Taiwan. In 1992, he came to Yuyao to invest, develop and build the Far East Industrial City. Since then, he has integrated his golden years into this world of entrepreneurship and innovation, developed and grew up with this city, sweated and dedicated his wisdom in his second hometown Yuyao, and he himself has received generous rewards.
It hit it off at first sight and built a garden-style industrial city
Cai Yucheng was one of the first Taiwanese businessmen to invest in Ningbo.
Around 1992, Taiwan's manufacturing costs increased, and many toy companies moved their production lines outward. "There were two choices at that time, one was Southeast Asia, which was relatively safe; the second was the mainland. We were unsure, but we felt that the prospects were broad." Cai Yucheng said.
In 1992, inspired by Deng Xiaoping's southern conversation, the wave of reform and opening up in coastal cities rose and rose, which made Cai Yucheng strengthened his confidence and decided to find a suitable city in the mainland to build an industrial city. "On September 28, 1992, I set foot on the land of Yuyao for the first time." Cai Yucheng blurted out about this day. "I fell in love with Yuyao at first sight. It is a wonderful place, with a solid industrial foundation and a high cultural quality of the labor force. It is a good place to realize your dreams in entrepreneurship." Cai Yucheng and the Taiwan Toy Industry Association agreed that he would invest more than 20 million US dollars to build an industrial park in Yuyao for toy companies to relocate and build factories in other places.
In the next six months, Cai Yucheng traveled to Yuyao more than 10 trips. At that time, the Shanghai-Hangzhou-Ningbo Expressway had not been opened, and there were no direct flights from Taiwan to Ningbo. "First take a plane to Shanghai, then take a ferry to Ningbo, and then take a car to Yuyao. This will take a long time." Cai Yucheng said, "I want to build a garden-style industrial park so that Taiwanese businessmen who come to Yuyao to run factories and do business have good living and working conditions." Cai Yucheng started with planning and hired designers from Taiwan's Hsinchu Science and Technology Park to take the initiative, and constructed according to the standards of internationally renowned industrial parks at that time.
has moved forward and insisted on defending the clouds for many years to see the bright moon
In 1994, just when Far East Industrial City was preparing to build a factory, the Taiwan toy industry fell into a depression, and many manufacturers did not have the ability to build factories in other places. The industrial city covering an area of more than 1,000 acres only had two or three Taiwanese enterprises in it at that time. Cai Yucheng's pressure suddenly increased. "My mother-in-law came to Yuyao and found that the situation was not very ideal, so she was very worried. My wife comforted her and said that I had the spirit of Yugong moving mountains. As long as I persisted, I would succeed." Cai Yucheng said.
It rained all night long. The Asian financial crisis that occurred in 1997 caused the investment promotion work of Far East Industrial City to a halt. "The annual operating expenses require millions of yuan, and there are only six or seven manufacturers entering, so it is inevitable to lose money." But Cai Yucheng has always had a belief that the rapid development momentum of mainland China, the growing market, and the continuous improvement of infrastructure and industrial supporting facilities will make the industrial city better and better.
Cai Yucheng "works hard on internal skills", constantly improving the environment of the industrial city, and waiting for the overall environment to improve. Since 1999, private enterprises in Zhejiang have developed rapidly, and the throughput capacity of Ningbo Port has been continuously enhanced, and the various bottlenecks that restrict industrial cities no longer exist.
Whoever has no storm and heavy rain, watch the clouds open and see the bright moon. After 6 years of persistence, Cai Yucheng finally ushered in the spring of his career. First, Japan's Combe Company, which produces children's strollers, moved in, and then Chewang Electronics, Sihai Lamps, Leihu Technology and other companies settled one after another."Around 2000, manufacturers entered a large scale. By the beginning of 2002, the first phase of Far East Industrial City was 'full of staff'." There were more than 18,000 employees working in Far East Industrial City, and the total sales of the manufacturers were about 5 billion yuan.
A deep affection, becoming the "spokesperson" of the second hometown
Cai Yucheng built an industrial city in Yuyao and became famous. Taiwanese businessmen who want to invest in the mainland often "seek lessons" from him. Every time a Taiwanese businessman comes to Yuyao, he will take them to appreciate his "works" and explain to the guests in detail the preferential policies and economic environment of Yuyao. "If you want customers to invest, you must first let customers see more, and second, you must introduce more, and tell every friend who wants to invest."
Cai Yucheng spent more and more time and energy on "endorsing" for Yuyao and Ningbo. He has successively served as the Honorary President of the Ningbo Taiwan Compatriots Investment Enterprise Association, the Advisor of the Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Overseas Chinese Affairs of the Ningbo Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Overseas Chinese Committee, vice president of the Zhejiang Taiwan Investment Enterprise Association, and director of the Zhejiang Business Association.
"I am the investment ambassador in Yuyao and Ningbo." He not only works as a "spokesman" in Yuyao, but also often goes to Taiwan to attend promotion meetings and accept media interviews. Cai Yucheng said: "I not only operate an industrial city, but also do industry, knowing what merchants think, want, and fear. What I said is very convincing to merchants."
Cai Yucheng often says that he knows Yuyao more than Yuyao people, and this is his second hometown.
"Yuyao is developing too fast. There are hardworking and kind people and government staff who are busy with work. I have witnessed the earth-shaking changes in Yuyao. When I first came, the raw materials for making bread needed to be purchased at the Shanghai Friendship Store. Now life in Yuyao is much more convenient." In 1993, Cai Yucheng and his family moved to Yuyao from Taiwan. His daughter finished high school at Yuyao Middle School and was admitted to Peking University. "My son went to the United States to study after elementary and middle school in Yuyao. Now he has returned to Yuyao to work and is preparing to take over my class. My third generation will also settle down here. The local government has provided great help and support to the Far East Industrial City. Coming to Yuyao is the most proud choice in my life. Yuyao and I are really destined to be in the 'three lives'." Cai Yucheng said.
Text: He Feng Xie Minjun
