Loads of Irish people are rats, including Bono and Arts Minister Seamus Brennan TD. So were John F Kennedy, Mozart and Shakespeare. They all became rats when they were born in a Chinese Year of the Rat. The new Year of the Rat starts on 7th February 2008. Massive celebrations will begin on that day
in China and Chinese communities around the world, including Ireland. People born in the Year of the Rat (2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960, 1948, 1936) are highly motivated, resourceful and charming. They like to talk, but often have an explosive temper. It’s a year of new beginnings, of laying down foundations for future projects and for building relationships, in particular on an international level. Chinese New Year, also called Spring Festival, is the longest and most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. It will be a busy year for ChinaGreen (sic) – a Dublin & Shanghai based China Skills provider which has seen record increases in interest in transacting business in China among Irish clients, in recent months. ChinaGreen founder Deirdre Walsh, who speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese herself, said: “Where relationships are important, you need to know enough to be able to reach out and connect with your partners. A little preparation and knowledge goes a long way in getting to know your friends in China.” Many of ChinaGreen’s clients find new friends and partners through the ChinaGreen website at www.chinagreen.ie --- whether they are true rats or not. ChinaGreen is a leading provider of China Skills to Irish Business. Founded in 2005 by Deirdre Walsh (photo encl.), a UCD (BBLS) and MBA graduate, ChinaGreen has offices in Terenure Dublin and Shanghai China with bilingual teams in both locations. Deirdre worked for almost 4 years in Hong Kong and China and speaks Mandarin Chinese. Contact details: deirdre@chinagreen.ie : Mobile: 087 2163618: Office: 01 490 3237 www.ChinaGreen.ie ChinaGreen offers these top 8 tips for success in China in the Year of the Rat. Why 8? 8 is a lucky number in China – but follow these tips and you won’t be relying on luck alone when doing business in China. 1. Find good business partners, not all companies, whether customers, suppliers, investors or distributors in China are the same, set your criteria for selecting a partner and invest in finding potentials who meet these criteria. 2. Get to know who your business partners are- don’t be tempted to concentrate only on price. If you don’t know who you are dealing with then you definitely won’t know what you are investing in until perhaps it is too late. 3. Build close relationship with your business partners. Relationships are hugely important in China and a positive working relationship may be more useful to you than the best of contracts. Visiting your business partner may help build that relationship more quickly than anything else. 4. Set clear goals & resource for the long haul – its so easy to be distracted by the scale of opportunity and developments in China – don’t get sidetracked away from what you want to achieve. But it does take time in China so think beyond just the Year of the Rat in laying down plans. 5. Learn about China Where relationships are important you need to know enough to be able to reach out and connect with your business partners, a little preparation & knowledge goes a long way in getting to know your friends in China. 6. Take advice – China is different – talk to experts such as ChinaGreen before you go, before you sign contracts or send any payment. Help is also available from other sources such as Enterprise Ireland, your local enterprise board and organisations such as ISME (www.isme.ie). 7. Develop China Skills – in house – China may well end up being the most important supply base or market for your business in the future. If initial research shows positive results take steps now to ensure you have China Skills on your team to tap into any opportunities. 8. Act Now – China is developing apace, it is developing its products and services for export while also becoming a market of increasing importance for companies in Europe – perhaps most important of all is to at least consider this year what China can bring to your business. DCEB Export Financial Assistance Are you in business and seeking to develop overseas markets? Our Export Marketing Initiative Fund can assist you. The fund can part-fund the cost of travel & subsistence, exhibiting at a Trade Fair and the creation of marketing material specifically for overseas markets. Funding Terms • Grant covers 50% of eligible costs (subject to a maximum of €5,000 per company in any one calendar year). • Application must be made prior to any expenditure being incurred. • Payment will be made to approved projects on receipt of proof of payment of all qualifying and approved expenses.