Great expat-ations: Marinovic Milorad, Serbian, 15 years in China

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-10-13 10:19

Why China?

In the early mid-1990s the decomposition of the former Yugoslavia was well under way. Companies from Serbia were under an embargo imposed on the import and export of all products to and from Europe and America.

The largest producer of machine tools from this area, Lola Corporation from Belgrade, found itself in this situation. A decision was made to try to work our way in the Chinese market and open it wider for our business. I came to China with this precise task and with big hopes.

I landed in Beijing on Oct 1, 1994, right on time for the Chinese National Day holiday. So I "set my flag" and set out to win over the Chinese market.

What are you doing now?

Currently, I am managing the operations of the international company, Point Group in China. They operate in the area of non-ferrous metals, food industry, renewable sources of energy, river transport and engineering.

My job consists mostly of product trading and servicing, mostly in field equipment. In recent years China has become a very important producer of equipment with better and better quality standards.

My advantage is that as an engineer with extensive experience and knowledge of technical and commercial problems, I can export to the Chinese market as well as import from it.

How good is your Chinese?

My mother language is Serbian, but I am fluent in English, Russian, and other Slavic languages. I can speak a little Mandarin.

Food?

There is a quote that I like very much that goes: "It does not matter where the food is from, it is important that this food is for rich people." I think that means that the quality for taste, aesthetics, quantity, presentation, etc, is all very high. My first encounter with Chinese food, which was a long time ago was like this. It was unusual, but tasty and I liked it.

My arrival in China gave me the opportunity to taste various types of Chinese food.

During my first years here, I have tried all kinds of dishes from the typical to the extreme, such as snakes, scorpions, canine meat.

In recent years, especially after the SARS epidemic, I am more cautious and a little less willing to experiment, eating mostly well-known dishes that suit me, and avoiding extremely spicy dishes and dishes of unknown and dubious ingredients.

Money?

The region where I come from isn't famous for high earnings and other compensations; it meets basic living and working conditions, but not luxury.

The good thing about living in China is that, regardless of your income you can always treat yourself to pleasures that would be inaccessible in other places of the world, Europe or the US.

Here, it's easier to spend money on luxuries in terms of food, clothes, culture and sports.

In my opinion, it is not important how much money one has, but how one lives and enjoys life, and in China it is possible with a little money.

What does the future hold?

During the 15 years I've lived and worked in China, I've grown really accustomed to the environment. I feel local. Every day, every trip in China brings something new. My family's most beautiful years are tied to China as well.

My sons grew up and were educated in China, so they look at it as a second home.

I will remain active here until it makes sense for me, in terms of business success and financial justification, to leave.

If for whatever reason I am no longer in China, I will certainly try to come back as often as possible and visit all the places I missed during my expat years in China.