Hello, everyone!
My name is Chen Qingbao, from YIWU SHAWK CO., LTD.
Today marks a special occasion as we celebrate the establishment of SHAWK. This year also marks my 20th year of working in the Middle Eastern market. On behalf of SHAWK, I would like to share a story of three decades: two decades of experience behind us and an exciting new decade ahead.
The First Decade: Learning and Building Experience
My first decade was a period of learning and professional development.
After graduating in 2007, I joined my family business and traveled to Dubai to engage in the wholesale mobile phone business.
During those ten years, I learned the fundamentals of international trade and sales while developing a deep understanding of the cultures, business practices, and local communities of the Middle East and Africa.
Those experiences laid the foundation for everything that followed.
The Second Decade: Growing Together as Partners
My second decade was defined by partnership and shared determination.
Together with Wang Yaqiang, Cao Lifeng, and Yang Qiuwen, and later joined by Chen Feiyang, Hu Xiongwei, and Chen Jiahui, we built Zhanhong’s business across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Russia.
Through our collective efforts, we grew into a team of 200 employees, established overseas warehouses in three countries, and developed agency and partner networks across two platforms.
This decade reinforced two convictions that I continue to hold firmly:
First, e-commerce in the Middle East is a market worth dedicating another ten years to.
Second, a strong partnership model creates lasting opportunities for growth and renewal.
Behind these achievements are the stories of the people who made them possible.
There is the story of Wang Yaqiang and Yang Qiuwen, whose relationship grew alongside their shared commitment to work. In 2020, shortly before the pandemic lockdowns, Wang Yaqiang left China and rushed back to Dubai to remain at his post and fulfill his responsibilities.
There is Cao Lifeng, whose sense of responsibility has always stood out. Whenever difficulties arose overseas, he never backed down or burdened others with complaints. Instead, he quietly took responsibility, overcame challenges, and made sure the job was done.
There is Chen Feiyang, whose loyalty and perseverance became especially evident when the company experienced a business downturn. Rather than leaving during difficult times, he chose to stay and move forward with us.
There is Hu Xiongwei, whose dedication has been equally remarkable. Through consistent effort, day after day, he built a team in Changsha with patience, determination, and resilience.
And there is Chen Jiahui, who has repeatedly demonstrated the courage to begin again. From operating independent e-commerce websites targeting the Middle East to exploring Russian e-commerce and eventually returning to the Middle Eastern market, he has faced every setback with perseverance and every new beginning with renewed determination.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all my partners for their understanding, patience, and support over the years.
It is precisely this spirit of mutual understanding that has enabled us to overcome differences, navigate difficulties, and develop into a team with strong convictions, remarkable resilience, and lasting vitality.
I also hope that every colleague at Xiaoke will set ambitious goals, work diligently, and strive to become a business owner in their own right one day—joining our partnership team as we continue moving forward together.
The Next Decade: Setting Sail for Greater Ambitions
The decade ahead will be a new journey of expansion and ambition.
We have chosen to join Kaiyue because we believe that, within a stronger organization and guided by the right corporate culture, we can pursue excellence and create greater value for our customers, colleagues, and shareholders.
Looking back on the past two decades and ahead to the third, one commitment remains unchanged: our determination to continue building our expertise and presence in the Middle Eastern market.
As President Tom has emphasized:
“Make significant investments in the areas you know best.”
That is exactly what we intend to do.
Over the next ten years, we will leverage the strengths of Kaiyue’s platform and make a bold commitment to the Middle Eastern market—a market we understand, believe in, and have dedicated two decades to developing.
Finally, I would like to invite all our partners and colleagues to join me in setting an ambitious goal of USD 300 million, as we embark on this new decade together.
Ten years from now, I hope we can gather here once again, look back on everything we have accomplished, and proudly say:
“We chose the right path.”
Thank you, everyone!