BJHS: No retreat to expand the market；A great task to venture into Africa

By：Yuan Lan    Date：2021/09/15 
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Beijing HanjianHeshan Pipeline Co., Ltd（BJHS) actively responded to the guidance of the national "the Belt and Road Initiative", and Chairman Tian Yubo established "going abroad for further development" as the company's important development strategy from 2015 to 2020.

“ No retreat to expand the market；A great task to venture into Africa”

Work record of struggling forward in "the Belt and Road” 
by Beijing HanjianHeshan Pipeline Co., Ltd

China and Zambia enjoyed a profound historical friendship, which can be traced back to the Tanzania-Zambia Railway aided by China in 1970s.

On September 7, 2013, President Xi Jinping put forward the great initiative of jointly building the Silk Road Economic Belt. On September 3, 2018, Beijing summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was held grandly, which made the world focus on China's achievements in the past 40 years of reform and opening up. During the summit, Zambia signed the relevant memorandum and officially joined the "the Belt and Road" family, opening a new era of friendly cooperation between China and Zambia.

Beijing HanjianHeshan Pipeline Co., Ltd（BJHS) actively responded to the guidance of the national "the Belt and Road Initiative", and Chairman Tian Yubo established "going abroad for further development" as the company's important development strategy from 2015 to 2020. The company sent several groups of personnel to Zambia for field investigation, and made feasibility analysis on the investment and construction work. It is fully demonstrated that the municipal infrastructure in Zambia and its neighboring countries is relatively backward, and a large number of concrete products are needed for the construction of local infrastructure such as rainwater and sewage treatment, electricity and communication, which has a good market development prospect. Therefore, BJHS made a decisive decision and registered Beijing HanjianHeshan (Zambia) Company Limited (hereinafter referred to as HJHS Zambia) in November 2018, and began to build concrete product production lines such as prestressed concrete poles, concrete pipes and prefabricated inspection wells, aiming to build regional precast concrete product production base in southeastern Africa.

The first concrete pole was successfully rooted in the African continent

HJHS Zambia is located in Katuba, Chibombo district, central province of Zambia, close to T2 Highway, the north-south artery of Zambia, and 35 kilometers away from Lusaka of the capital city, with very convenient transportation offered. HJHS Zambia covers an area of 14 hectares, with a total construction area of 46,700 square meters, including pole workshop, drainage workshop, office area, dormitory area, laboratory and warehouse.

The day of August 1, 2019 is enough for HJHS Zambiato remember in the company history. With the success of the first concrete pole with a tip diameter of 190 mm and a length of 12 meters off the assembly line, the Zambian company has achieved a staged victory in the production line construction, and the roots of BJHS are slowly penetrating into the vast African continent.

HJHS Zambia is the only concrete poles maker in Zambia, whose establishment has added impetus to the local economic development. There is a huge demand of materials for pole production, and material procurement can drive tens of millions of yuan in trade; The production line needs workers, and the company should gradually implement localized management, creating a large number of employment opportunities for local people; Replacing wooden poles with concrete poles can greatly reduce wood consumption and improve local natural ecological environment.

With deep friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation foundation in mind, the leaders of Zambian company took the initiative to visit Chinese-funded enterprises in Zambia， ZESCO Limited, Highway Bureau, Rural Electrification Bureau, Communication Bureau and other units, actively introduced their products and invited them to visit the company on the spot. At present, Zambia's market development is relatively smooth, and several municipal concrete street lamp projects and communication pole projects have been completed.

In order to realize the operation of building a production base in southeastern Africa as soon as possible, the company first established a firm foothold in Zambia by shaping "Made in Zambia". And then began to vigorously explore the markets of neighboring countries. With this symbolic "Made in Zambia", the company's products have been successfully sold to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and have been well received by customers. At the same time, it also signed the purchasing intentions of Mozambique, Malawi and other countries.

Construction and installation site of

communication pole and street lamp pole

Loading and shipping of lampposts

Fulfill social responsibilities

Spread the BJHS brand

To work in a foreign country, one must understand the local religious beliefs and living habits, and abide by the local laws and regulations. The hardships of life can be overcome and the national conditions and market environment can be adapted slowly for anyone come to Zambia to work in a factory, but language communication is the biggest headache. Simple communication with foreign personnel is not a difficult problem, but when it comes to complicated matters such as product design, contract signing, legal affairs, etc., the only solution is to hire professional translators or local personnel with experience in studying in China to assist.

HJHS Zambia leaders often encounter difficulties in explaining work tasks to workers. The posts of finance, human resources, drivers, translators, etc. must employ local people according to local laws and regulations, which adds many restrictions to the work of enterprises. Despite these difficulties, by studying the language hard, getting along well with local employees and improving mutual understanding, the friendship between the cadres and the masses can be gradually cultivated, and the sense of belonging of local employees to the company is gradually strengthened.

In order to rapidly expand the "circle of friends" and enhance social popularity, HJHS Zambia actively initiated and successfully held the first overseas Chinese football match, which lasted for more than 20 days and consisted of 27 competitions with nearly 200 participants. The competition received strong support from the embassy and The World Federation of Overseas Chinese Associations, and enthusiastic participation from various organizations and enterprises. In addition, they also actively participate in various business exhibitions, investment forums organized by the Zambian government and Chinese song festival held by the embassy; on the 70th birthday of the motherland, Overseas Chinese weekly of People's Daily Overseas Edition carried out full-page publicity and promotion. At the same time, the company produced various publicity materials in both Chinese and English to spread the brand of BJHS in different media.

HANJIAN-SHIOOO ∙ 1st ZANBIA-CHINA FOOTBAL TOURNAMENT

Some diplomats and CCPA leaders visited the BJHS booth of the 2020 China Concrete Exhibition