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My name is Neeraj Punhani. I am from India. I am into the textile business, International Trade. Back in 2002, Punhani moved to Shaoxing, a historic water town next to Hangzhou in Jejang Province. Since then, he has not only established a textile trading company, but also made Shaoxing his home. Join our conversation as we dive into Punhani's journey of carving out a successful path in China. So first of all, Mr. Punhani, I wonder how it all got started. What inspired you to come to China in the first place? In 1996, I shifted to Dubai, and within one year, I started my own business. Since then, I am doing same business of textile sourcing from various countries and selling to Dubai, some part of Europe, and India. Before we used to buy from Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, and 1996-97, China started supplying textile, and many international companies, they suggested us to buy from China. Coming to 2000, so much business started from China. That time I was in Dubai, we used to buy so much goods from China. So in 2003, we set up offices here. And how do you feel about doing business in China? Have you encountered any challenges along the way? What I feel, China was very easy to enter and do business here, you know, government department, they are very cooperative. You know, I've visited many countries, and I set up office in Dubai also. Now I have office in India also. I stayed in Korea. So here, officer's nature is very helpful. If any foreigner or any outsider, when they reach to the government department, they help them a lot. When we think of the city of Shaoxing, we often picture its beautiful water town and traditional Chinese architecture. But actually the city is home to one of the largest textile manufacturing and trade centers in China, which is located in Keqiao district. And I know, Mr. Punhani, you also started your business there. And now this market complex includes over 30,000 textile-related enterprises that offer a wide range of fabrics and textile products. And it has become an international business hub with some 5,000 long-term foreign residents from nearly 100 countries and regions. So Mr. Punhani, I know there are many Indian people residing in the region for textile business. Do you feel a sense of competition? You know, there are at present more than 1,000 Indians are here. These Indians basically all belong to international trade. They are in this trade from father, grandfather, great grandfather, many years back. So they all have their clients and textile is not something anybody can enter. For example, you want to enter into the textile industry, it's not easy. You need to learn, you need to practice. So competition is not an issue because we deal business by giving credit. We control quality. We give credit to our customer. So Mr. Punhani, based on your working experiences in many places like India, Dubai and China, have you noticed any major differences in terms of business culture? Yes, I found so many differences. When I was in Dubai, a boss and staff have big gap. Here work environment was very good. It took me a few months to adopt this culture and made me more successful because here all work like a team and from their face and dressing and they're talking, you cannot guess who's boss and who is staff. So this I found is the difference and China, they work very hard. They don't have any nature to waste their time while working. Yeah. And China has also been embracing technology across various industries. Have you noticed this trend in your business as well? You know, I, from starting, I am into the basic fabric. I never tried to go in innovation because fabric, you know, we need to choose volume or less volume with innovation. So my focus always was on basic so that I can do more volume. But yes, here you will find so many innovator things before used to do embroidery by hands. They have machinery to manage that embroidery before other countries. They used to do same product in $20, $30 per meter. But here they are able to make same fabric in $3, $4 with the help of machinery. In innovation, I don't think any country can compare with China, textile, machinery and industry. China is really far ahead with if compared with any country. So over the past years of doing business in China, what do you think is the most important lesson that you've learned? Where people are very honest, you can trust your staff more than you. Maybe you can do mistakes, but your staff will never do mistakes, especially in managing your payment, money, financial and company decision. So I learned that honesty is very important and I learned it from my team, my office staff. They are really very honest and faithful to my company. This I really learned from this. Yeah, like you said, honesty is definitely crucial to build trust among clients and business partners. And what advice would you give to those foreigners who are thinking of doing business in China? Any helpful tips? I want to tell you this is the place of opportunity. If you come China, you not only will be able to set up a good business, also you will learn a lot. Like a Canton Fair, if you go to Canton Fair or you go to Guangzhou market, Shenzhen market, Yavu market or Kachao market, the people who don't know about the business, just visiting at these markets, they will be able to get many ideas. And that was Niraj Punhani, a seasoned veteran in the textile industry. In addition to his professional pursuits, he has a loving home with his wife and two children in Shaoxing. In 2015, Punhani was honored with the Most Beautiful People in Zhejiang Award by the provincial government. What's the story behind this? Let's dive back into our conversation. So, Mr. Punhani, you've been living in Shaoxing for over 20 years now. What do you enjoy most about this city? There is a long list. I like everything, but especially like environment and infrastructure. If you come out from your home, a lot of greenery is there, a lot of different kind of flowers are there. Always you will see a blue sky and there is a lake, a beautiful lake. If you come, you will love to see this lake. And moreover, you know, here the government, their thinking is 10, 20 years ahead of normal person. Like what I think now, government planning has already decided 10, 20 years ahead of us. Like here, you will surprise, you know, in Kachao, a small district, there is a formula one F1, there is a golf course and so many stadiums are here to sports, so many grounds. We love it. My kids love my wife. She loves this place so much. I'm glad that you love your life in China. And before the interview, you showed me the award that's displayed in your office. You were given the most beautiful people in Zhejiang Award back in 2015. And I'm curious about the story behind this honor. It was a year before when one girl needed a blood. At that time, we used to circulate messages if someone needs help. So I got a message from some of my friends. He also received it from other person. I told you, we all are a textile family, you know, here, Chinese, Indian and foreign national, they live like a family. So whoever in need, we circulate message that some person needs blood. I called that number. It was not easy to communicate because he was talking from different Chinese. Then immediately I asked him the location. He was very far, maybe about 60, 70 kilometers far from us in Hangzhou. And after donating blood, we came to know that they need more blood and maybe money. After come back, we arranged a big blood donation camp that was our first blood donation camp in Kachau and more than 100 people, they participated in there to help that girl. Wow. And we collected more than 160 something, I forgot the amount, 160,000 RMD for that family. And we donated that money and a lot of blood from more than 100 people. So this was the case. And in 2015, I got a call to visit Hangzhou. I was not aware the reason I went with them. And then then I came to know they are awarding me with this, this most beautiful Jijang award. So it was really proud full movement that people here recognize each and every thing we do. And that's very kind hearted and generous of you and your fellow donators. I think what you did is truly incredible and inspiring. And I know now you've also been appointed as a mediator at the local court. You helped to solve conflicts involving foreign business people. How did it start? I remember when I came here from first year, many people, they take my advice to solve their matter. At that time, they were business matter. And because from starting, I was in the good business volume, many factories, they listen to me, they trust me, they take advice from me. So that built up a special trust. So somehow with the time, it gave me more leverage. And many people prefer to take my help to mediate with their business dispute and matter. Before solving, they both never even tried to shake hands. They never tried to see each other with happiness. And after solving of five minutes and 15 minutes, they hug each other and they forget any anger in the past. That makes me really feel proud. And matters are very small, you know, even in your personal life. Also, if you are married or any brother or sister, sometimes small, small matters make us angry. But when we realize them that this is very small matter, nothing big in this. Your relation, relation values are big by informing them that your relation values are more than amount you are discussing. And these matters are nothing. So it takes five to 15 minutes to solve the matter. And they happily accept the decision. I suggest to them. And I can really resonate with that. You know, when you are in an argument with someone, oftentimes it's easy to get caught up in your own thoughts and not really listen to the other side. But having someone step in and offer a different perspective can be a game changer, especially when they trust you and your opinions. Well, Mr. Punhani, thank you so much for taking the time to talk with us. It's been an absolute pleasure.