Mexican Entrepreneurs in China
Professor, Law and International Relations Department, Tec de Monterrey, Santa Fe Campus. Visiting fellow at the Institute of Development, Fudan University, China.
Abstract
There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing how training and education bear fruit. A while ago I interviewed two restless young men who were going to study the major in International Business at Tec de Monterrey. At that time, I was the program director; they were Diego Ocampo and Eduardo Sojo. They arrived at the same time and were in the same class. Each semester they were very curious and took on more and more sophisticated and difficult academic challenges. I remember that they always asked me for advice, and my answer was always the same: “Go to Asia; that’s where the future lies.” They took it to heart. When I traveled and lived in Asia at the turn of the century, I was sure of it. The 21st century belongs to Asia.
They took the opportunity and traveled to China, planning to study two semesters at Fudan University, precisely where I’m now a visiting fellow, and to train with ProMéxico. I lost track of them. I took on a new position at work. Life had a pleasant surprise in store for me. I met up with them again, and now they’re prosperous Mexican entrepreneurs in Shanghai. A few years ago they started a consulting business that represents Chinese companies. They help Mexican, Colombian, and U.S. businesses penetrate the Chinese market, and they co-created a training program for Mexican businesspeople interested in Asia. I couldn’t wait to ask them for an interview, and fortunately they accepted. I wanted to hear what they thought of China.