Julius Daujotas, METP graduate

30 november 2009 at 10:42 | |

“The best way to succeed in China”

Julius Daujotas, 32, graduate of the China programme run by the METP (Managers Exchange and Training Programme, August 2007-July 2008)
Position: (At the time of joining the programme) Executive at Umega AB, a Lithuanian company set up in 1960, which now employs 320 people.
Activity: Manufacturing heating equipment for industrial firms and laboratories.
Cost of the programme for the company: Free, with a grant of approximately 1,000 euros per month for the candidate.

Illustration : Thierry Cap de Coume

Commerce International: Why did you join the METP programme?
“My company needed someone who could work effectively with Chinese firms. I went to the METP to learn how to communicate with the Chinese and to get a clearer idea of the country’s market. Of course, I also knew that I was going to meet a lot of interesting people from China and around the world.”
How does the programme work?
“Thanks to the programme we were able to meet and work with a lot of professionals from all over China, with the result that many of us became friends. In fact, if you want to do business in China, being a friendly terms with your business partners is essential.”
What did you get from your time at the METP?
“From both a personal and professional point of view, the programme was one of the best experiences of my life. For people interested in the Chinese market, who understand what they want to do and believe in it, the METP is the best way of guaranteeing success. Being able to communicate with the Chinese and to understand them is one of the keys to doing well in this country.”
What is your current professional situation?
“When the programme finished, I went back to Lithuania. The financial crisis had hit the country’s economy hard and, as a result, my company, Umega AB, had had to alter its development plans. China was no longer one of their objectives. So I decided to put my knowledge and experience of the Chinese market to good use by joining the company of a friend of mine, Stabilios Investicijos UAB. I’m now involved in import-export between China and Europe. My knowledge of the Chinese language means that I can visit the most out of the way places to look for smaller, less expensive factories which still offer a high quality of service. Our company is still relatively small, but we are hoping to set up a subsidiary in China in 2010.”

Charles Delaere