Italian businessman witnesses huge changes here

Italian businessman Pierangelo Barchi exhibited his products at the Shenzhen Creative Week, held in Bao’an District from July 25 to 28.

It was the first time for him to attend the furniture and design fair in Shenzhen as an exhibitor.

Pierangelo Barchi (C) takes a photo with friends. Courtesy of the interviewee

“I think the exhibition is interesting for me because we have the possibility to show our products, as the Chinese market has always been a good market for Italian products,” he told Shenzhen Daily.

He thought it was useful for creating new business in China.

“It’s a new adventure, a new challenge with my business partner in Italy,” he said.

As a businessman who first came to China in 1998, he knows China well and had expected to meet people from all around the country. At the fair, he met people mostly from nearby cities like Guangzhou and Dongguan. “I miss a little bit the people from other places, but considering the situation of the pandemic, I think it’s OK,” Barchi said.

He is positive for the future as he has set up some good connections at the fair. “This is a good start.”

Barchi first came to Shenzhen in 1998 and has witnessed the tremendous changes here. He first worked for an Italian company producing sofas. “I saw an innovative China, which gives the people really amazing possibilities.”

He was first based in Shenzhen and then moved to Zhongshan about 10 years later. He said his life in China is divided into two parts, with one half in Shenzhen and another half in Zhongshan.

“I saw China changing so much, which is unbelievable. In Italy, 20 years are always the same. In China, it’s going from zero to 1,000. What China has done in my time [here] cannot be written in one book, you need at least two books,” he joked.

What impressed him most is the changing of people’s behavior here. “The education of the people changes very dramatically as now the people are very well educated,” Barchi said.

He also witnessed huge changes in Shenzhen. “Before, the urban area was basically in Luohu, and then Futian. After that, they made a really beautiful Nanshan.”

In his eyes, Shenzhen is getting bigger, nicer, more modern and beautiful compared with the early years he stayed here. “In Italy, the cities are always the same.”

Barchi is very positive about the future connections between Shenzhen and Zhongshan. “There will be a bridge, and you will need only 25 minutes to drive from one city to the other. That would make Shenzhen and Zhongshan almost one big city.”

He views China as the largest potential market outside Italy for his new business here. Zamagna Italia, the furniture company he now works for, is a family business owned by his best friend in Italy. “I want to contribute to its growth in China.”

In his view, big brands in Italy always targeted China as a good market.

“Maybe 20 years ago, they thought China was zero, then they thought it is OK here, and then ‘wow, it is good!’ Now they think China is the No. 1 [market].” he said.

He found that many Chinese people like to visit Italy for its history and the shopping experiences there.