To Realize Our Dreams in China and Huabao - Postscript of the Study Trip to China of the Technical Backbone from F&G BOTSWANA

From August 18 to September 3, 2023, Huabao organized the technical backbone of its overseas subsidiary F&G BOTSWANA to participate in skill training and leaning activities in Huabao Shanghai Industrial Park and its subordinate enterprises. The training was a concrete measure of Huabao for overseas talent training, which will give play to the advantages of Huabao International Intelligent Innovation Platform, and effectively facilitate the healthy development of overseas subsidiaries and the Company’s international business. The Company designed the courses for the trainees from a customized and international perspective, helping them to broaden their vision, improve their skills, and better integrate into the culture of Huabao.

As the old saying goes, “preparedness ensures success and unpreparedness spells failure”. F&G BOTSWANA had planned the study trip to China in early February this year, and made full preparations in the early stage. On August 18, 2023, Mr. ZHU Huawen, General Manager of F&G BOTSWANA, led 3 Botswanan colleagues to embark on the two-week study trip to China. In addition to improving their skills, the trainees also experienced the culture and customs of China during this trip. This training and learning experience deeply impressed them, and they said that the scientific research level of Huabao and China’s development speed was really amazing. After returning to Africa, the three colleagues Bulayani Fani, Mogomotsi Moalosi and David Cesar shared what they saw and heard during their trip to China and Huabao.

Bulayani Fani

China is a very safe destination with friendly and efficient service. The Chinese people are also easy to get along with. All bills can be paid online via mobile phone, without the need to carry cash and without the risk of losing it.

China’s infrastructure and environment are beyond our imagination and China is more advanced than African countries in almost all aspects. I learned that China takes environmental issues very seriously because the environment in China is cleaner than we thought. Most cars and motorcycles in China are electric, which can reduce air pollution and make users easier to use them. At the same time, China makes full use of every space available to carry out development and construction.

This learning and training trip lasted for two weeks. We visited Huabao R&D Center in Shanghai and the factories in Shenzhen and Yingtan. We met senior lecturers in different technical fields, and experienced Huabao’s advanced technical equipment and comprehensive training programs. The experienced technicians trained us in different production processes, and we learned a lot from them. For example, in Shanghai, relevant technicians of the Company trained us in plant extraction process and separation technology. They welcomed us with open arms, which made our training easier because we felt at home. Through this training, we decide to regard the production of Huabao factories in China as the benchmark, and have listed all the equipment that needs to be purchased and improved, so as to improve our production technology.

During this trip, we specially visited the Aroma Industry Exhibition at the Trade Center to learn from essential oil manufacturers from all over the world. At each exhibition stand, we picked up their brochure to understand how they operate, so that we can also learn and adopt some key knowledge for our production system.

At the end of the training, we attended the graduation ceremony and received the training certificate, which was the most exciting moment for me.

Mogomotsi Moalosi

This trip to China is a learning and cultural journey. We received training at Huabao’s R&D centers and production plants. Apart from studying, we also visited the leisure parks and shopping malls in Shenzhen and Shanghai, and visited the Shanghai Museum, which allowed us to get close to Chinese culture. Throughout the trip, we found Chinese people were very friendly and hospitable.

During my two weeks in China, I learned a lot and experienced a lot, including: traveling long distances on high-speed trains. I saw widespread use of electric vehicles and green energy in China. I learnt that China has a lower crime rate. Consumers can order food by phone, and the food will be delivered and left at the door, and it won’t be taken away like it is in our local community. In China, people mostly use mobile phones to pay, rather than cash.

David Cesar

This trip to China is a very wonderful time for me, because it is the first time for me to go abroad, to board an airplane, to go out of Africa to another continent, and to visit the beautiful country, China. I like China very much and it had always been my dream to visit China. When I set foot on the beautiful and magical land, my dream came true.

During the two-week training, we learned or covered topics such as plant extraction and separation technologies, among which we learned about the limitations of traditional extraction technologies, including long extraction times, high solvent costs, low efficiency, and negative environmental impacts. We learned a lot about technologies to improve the production quality and observed technicians’ essential oil extraction operations on the spot. We also learned the relevant theoretical knowledge of sustainable development, and the knowledge related to analysis, inspection and quality control. Now, we are back in Botswana to teach our team members what we have learned from Huabao Headquarters in China, which is very useful for our production.

In China, we learned about the culture of the Chinese people, their lifestyle, and eating habits. We also visited Chinese museums to learn how ancient Chinese people lived and the objects they used. What I like most is the friendliness and hospitality of Chinese people, who make us feel free and welcome. I have learned a lot from Chinese people, such as mutual care and respect.

Thanks to our management for organizing such a wonderful training and trip, which allowed us to see the beautiful China and improve our skills, increase our knowledge, and helped me realize my dream.

This is the first impression of China and Huabao in the eyes of our African colleagues. Although the learning trip is short, we can still see their admiration for Huabao, their love for China, and the friendship between the employees of China and Botswana from their words and characters.

F&G BOTSWANA is an important enterprise for Huabao to “go out” and develop international business. Development is led by talents. Huabao attaches great importance to talent training, and enables foreign employees to master more skills and technologies, thus to improve the production level and provide impetus for the development of its overseas subsidiaries. Huabao bears the expectation of the development of China-Botswana friendship. As an enterprise, we seem to have no lofty words, but we proceed from the reality, take the opportunities of the “Belt and Road” Initiative, and forge ahead in the cooperative development of China and Botswana.