Richard Chace

ALL journeys begin by taking a first step, and while a destination may be in mind, the best part of the journey is usually what happens along the way. Thirteen years ago, my journey to Shenzhen began with what I believed at the time to be only a two-week visit to a security trade show.

It ultimately turned into a life-changing trip, personally and professionally.

Deng Xiaoping once said, "It doesn't matter if a cat is black or white, so long as it catches mice." That maxim certainly applies to Shenzhen, as the vision for this city was to develop a future dedicated to helping people “catch the mice of success and happiness.” It was on that first step of my China journey that I realized I had stumbled onto something big, something of which I needed to be a part. I had stumbled onto the future.

I came here with the understanding that while I hoped to experience China, I knew I would never fully understand her.

Yet what I did quickly understand was the keen sense of urgency with which local Shenzhen districts, such as Futian, were working to attract and embrace foreign enterprises. Aside from centralized city leadership, each district in Shenzhen has its own leadership and autonomy to conduct business within the district. This is a very key component to Shenzhen’s success in attracting international business as each district can work to provide special incentives for different types of businesses to open up within the city.

After 15 years of leading a trade association of security equipment manufacturers in the United States, heading numerous successful match-making trade delegations to China, hosting many Chinese dignitaries and business owners in the United States and working to bring more global attention to the Shenzhen security market, I decided to put my money where my mouth is and move to Shenzhen and set up our new security organization’s global headquarters — right in Futian District. After nearly two very positive years I can honestly say that I wonder what took me so long to make that decision.

To be fair, all of the regular traveling back and forth from the U.S. to China over the course of 10 years did give me a familiarity, business contact and relationship base that certainly helped with the transition to full-time resident. However, from the moment I expressed the interest to relocate to Shenzhen, the Futian District Government went out of its way to help make the transition and relocation a painless process and assist in securing a headquarters office that met our business needs.

Yet it was more than just a “relocation” activity. The Futian District Government actively wants to engage and learn how to make the full business relocation experience for foreign businesses better — it is not just a sales pitch and then they leave you to figure out how to “catch the mice.” Rather, the long-term goal is to create a “win-win” for the city/district and the foreign enterprises — to create and foster a partnership — for there is no way to grow a business relationship without first investing in a personal one.

Today, the climate for conducting business in Shenzhen is just as electric and vibrant as it was back in 2000 — although there are a few more cars on the road now. But city planners have been working to address the perennial traffic issue through a huge investment in a modern and expanded Metro system and high-speed rail connection that will take travelers from downtown Shenzhen to Hong Kong in 20 minutes. Futian District is even working to improve foreign schools and hospitals so foreign families have access to amenities not dissimilar from those of their home country. It is all part of a vision to make Shenzhen a truly global and international city.

For me, all roads have led to a new life in Futian. It has been a journey full of positive experiences bolstered by a vibrant city full of opportunity and promise. If you are looking to start a new journey of your own or to expand your business horizon, come take that first step — a first step to Futian.

American Richard Chace is the chairman and founder of the Futian-based Global Security Industry Alliance, a collection of security industry associations, societies and law-enforcement agencies from 35 emerging and developed countries that works to define and promote a global security business agenda. Chace previously served for 15 years as CEO and executive director of the U.S. Security Industry Association.