"Expert Sharing on China" Talk today - Quotes and lessons

Singaporeans in Africa
Recently, Mr Lee Yi Shan and a few of the panelists went to Africa for a business trip. They came across a fascinating Singaporean and shared it with the audience. They met a Singaporean woman who set up an electronics business in Lagos. She was working in an electronics shop in Sim Lim as a sales assistant, when she started noticing that a significant percentage of the shop's revenues (five figures) were from Africans who often paid full in cash. Intrigued, one day, she just bought a plane ticket and flew to Lagos alone. As she did not know that it was customary to bribe the immigration official, she was made to wait in the airport for the whole day. That was the start of her African story. Eventually, through much hard work, she managed to grow a very successful business. Lagos is reminiscent of Singapore in the 1950s, and the panelists shared that there are many opportunities.

Quotes from Mr Zhong, boss of Yanlord
有 字的书，无字的书，干中悟 (Book knowledge, and knowledge outside of books, learning through doing) 培养沟通能力、判断能力 (to develop communications skills and decision-making)

越发展的国家，商机越深埋 （The more advanced the country, the more hidden are the opportunities)

越满足市场需要，越成功 (Market-product fit ensures success)

非诚信取得的成功不长久。(Success gained through dishonest means does not last long.)

具体化 -> 制度化 -> 高效化 -> 人才化 （Execution -> Standardisation -> Optimisation -> Talent development)

以前，我们谈合约时，如果带了律师和会计师，对方会觉得我方很不友善。现在，当我们带律师和会计 师时，对方会觉得我们的公司很规范。
（Previously, during contractual negotiations, when we brought our lawyers and accountants, the other party would feel that we are being unfriendly. Now, when we bring our lawyers and accountants, they would feel that we are a properly managed company that commands trust.)