Wenzhou'S Largest Export Shoe Business In Ten Years

Ten years ago, in December 11th, China entered the WTO gate, ten years, and the Chinese enterprises and the Chinese economy continued to grow.

Ten years later today, journalists focus on the representative industries in Wenzhou.

Track 1: at the beginning of the WTO entry, the European giants dance together.

China's accession to the WTO and the removal of market barriers will greatly release the capacity of Wenzhou's dominant traditional industries.

Before joining the WTO, few Wenzhou shoe companies could enter the EU market.

In the eyes of Pan Jianzhong, general manager of the giant shoe industry group, China's accession to the WTO for ten years is the ten year that Wenzhou shoes have evolved from small to large and from weak to strong.

Before 2001, Wenzhou shoes foreign trade countries were mainly former Soviet Union countries, and the Soviet Union's light industry was lagging behind, and the technical threshold was not high.

In 1995, Pan Jianzhong had been engaged in leather shoes wholesale business in Moscow. Although the business was booming, as China and Russia had not yet joined the WTO, the border trade between the two countries was separated from the WTO platform, and the "gray customs clearance" was lingering like a nightmare. He finally decided to abandon the Russian market and enter a more mature and stable Western European market.

This is the dream of many Wen merchants at that time.

"Because of the high barriers to tariffs and other barriers to trade, Wenzhou shoe companies can penetrate the European market."

Pan Jianzhong recalled that not only tariffs, but technology, the EU's regulations on limiting the sale and use of dangerous substances and preparations were the most comprehensive and stringent in the world, and the content of various chemical substances was very fine, which was precisely the short board of Wenzhou shoes at that time.

"At that time, we all knew that accession to the WTO was a great opportunity, but honestly, there was something in it.

But at the moment of joining the WTO, I still feel very excited in retrospect.

Pan Jianzhong recalls that in December 11, 2001, when China ended the 15 year's "accession to the world long march", Pan Jianzhong, who was 31 years old, was happy to be like "making the biggest list in history". In December 11, 2001,

In order to enter the harsh EU market, in 1999, the EU began to reform and adjust according to the EU technical standards. Many finished shoes and raw materials were even brought to Hongkong for testing.

"At that time, the cost of testing a pair of sample shoes was 10 thousand yuan, and 100 pairs were 1 million yuan. We can say that in order to meet the EU standards, we pay a lot of manpower and material resources."

Pan Jianzhong said.

Great efforts were not wasted. After joining the WTO, giant one went out through exhibitions and other forms. German DHM, Spanish ZARA and other world famous retailers saw and collaborate with them.

"This is unthinkable before joining the WTO."

Pan Jianzhong said that Europe is a market with a warm heart. After entering the WTO, it finally ushered in the opportunity of "dancing together".

At this time, other enterprises such as Dongyi, AOKANG and other Wenzhou shoe enterprises also riveted their strength to go abroad.

Track 2: go first and get the "pass" to avoid trade barriers.

Not all dances are wonderful, and "Dances" also have the embarrassment of stepping on feet.

In fact, after China's accession to the WTO, Wenzhou people soon encountered "CR".

In March 21, 2002, 101st days after China's accession to the WTO, the Wenzhou smoking and smoking industry association formed a negotiating mission to Europe to deal with international trade disputes.

After repeated rounds of confrontation, the Wenzhou people won the classic "WTO first war".

And similar anti-dumping and trade barriers like lighters, Wenzhou leather shoes and other industries are not not encountered.

It can be said that ten years after the entry into WTO is the ten year of Wen Shang's struggle in the increasingly integrated global market, familiarity with international trade rules and promotion of competitiveness.

"What many people see is that making money from foreigners seems easier, but they do not see the risk of taking too much."

Pan Jianzhong lamented that with the deepening of trade after entering WTO, he felt more and more: playing differently.

We have been paying attention to the lighters at that time.

And I also wonder: what if one day such trade barriers happen to shoe companies? What do we do? "Pan Jianzhong told reporters that after the Wenzhou lighters successfully responded to the EU anti-dumping lawsuit, the European Union subsequently targeted anti-dumping investigations on Chinese shoes.

There are lighter counterparts going ahead, while Wenzhou shoe companies should learn from them.

At that time, the leaders of AOKANG and Jill reached Guangdong, Brussels and other footwear manufacturers to participate in the EU anti-dumping hearings on leather shoes and submitted defense information.

Pan Jianzhong is naturally concerned about the whole process.

Wenzhou shoe enterprises are low and scattered, labor disputes often occur, such as a female factory worker shoe poisoning incident, foreign customers after hearing all the cancellation, shoe factory did not meet the local law minimum wage standards, foreign customers stopped for two months and other events occurred in our city.

Pan Jianzhong said that after China's accession to the WTO, the use of tariff and anti-dumping measures by the US and Europe was no longer effective.

The implementation of SA8000 certification at the core of human rights protection is actually another trade barrier that European and American countries have thrown out to prevent the export of cheap products in China.

Perhaps thanks to the long-standing sense of smell of foreign trade, or inherited the strict style of Li Ailian, the first time in 2004, the first big one took the SA8000 international certification in the whole province. With this "pass", the giant successfully evade trade barriers.

"The great one is brilliant today, and it is also forced by foreign cruel technology and trade barriers."

In Pan Jianzhong's eyes, anti-dumping and trade barriers are not all bad things.

"Maybe a few years later, Wenzhou shoe industry and some other industries may be grateful that they gave us the second chance of the Phoenix Nirvana."

Track 3: financial crisis stick to "shoe capital" usher in the dawn of victory

After joining the WTO for ten years, Wenzhou's dependence on foreign trade has increased dramatically, and the impact of the world economy on Wenzhou has never been as strong as it is today.

In 2008, when the financial crisis broke out, the overseas market was almost swallowed up by the recession, and the manufacturing industry in Wenzhou was chill. Some production bases shifted to countries with lower production costs.

What's the future of "made in Wenzhou"? This has become an unexpected encounter ten years after WTO entry.

At a meeting of the financial crisis in 2008, foreign businessmen asked Pan Jianzhong, "where is the next China? Where is the next Wenzhou?"

Pan Jianzhong answered without hesitation: "the next China is still in China, and the next Wenzhou is still in Wenzhou."

After joining the WTO for ten years, Wenzhou's foreign economic dependence increased. In 2008 alone, Wenzhou's GDP dependence on foreign trade and export dependence reached 40.1% and 34.1% respectively.

On the one hand, the entry into the world brings a wider world to Wen enterprises, and on the other hand, they fall into uncontrollable situations, such as the financial crisis and the European debt crisis.

In particular, the export of leather shoes in Wenzhou has declined, while domestic labor costs are on the rise. Pan Jianzhong rarely felt "panic".

Pan Jianzhong was advised to set up factories in Vietnam, Indonesia and other countries like some other Wenzhou enterprises, but he refused.

Pan Jianzhong ponder over and over again, and finally, he left behind and worked hard to improve his efficiency.

"No matter how the world situation changes, the advantages of Wenzhou shoes will not disappear in the short term."

Pan Jianzhong said, it is true that the wages of domestic front-line production workers have risen to around 3000 yuan / month, while those in Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries need only 70 to 80 dollars / month. After entering the WTO, the global market is equal to all of them. Foreign businessmen will choose countries with cheaper labor costs.

However, Wenzhou has a long history of shoemaking, and has a large number of skilled technicians. Moreover, Wenzhou is a famous shoe city, and more than 3000 shoe enterprises and more than 1000 supporting enterprises have formed a complete industrial chain. The division of labor and cooperation among all sectors has reduced the cost of shoemaking to a minimum. More importantly, China's political situation is stable, its territory is vast, and its labor efficiency is high, which is unmatched by Southeast Asian countries.

Big one's choice is right.

In the first quarter of 2009, in the first quarter of the financial crisis, the giant realized export of US $21 million 750 thousand, an increase of over 60% over the same period last year, which once again proved that the potential of "made in Wenzhou" is still the same.

Track 4: put eggs in one basket instead of inside and outside.

After joining the WTO for ten years, despite the setbacks, Wenzhou's overall foreign trade achievements are quite eye-catching.

Today, Wenzhou has established trade relations with more than 160 countries and regions in the world. According to customs statistics of Wenzhou, the total value of foreign trade and import and export in Wenzhou in the first three quarters of 2011 was 16 billion 252 million US dollars, an increase of 30.64% over the same period last year, of which 13 billion 743 million US dollars were exported, up 29.52% over the same period last year.

At present, more and more enterprises are developing both inside and outside.

After China's accession to the WTO, the state set up various platforms to encourage enterprises to go out, and the sales volume of Wenzhou enterprises increased greatly.

But slowly, foreign trade enterprises are becoming more and more, profits are diluted, and foreign trade enterprises have to start new thinking.

"Uncertainty in the European and American markets, coupled with the RMB exchange rate and other issues, constantly reminds Wenzhou foreign trade enterprises: no longer put eggs in one basket."

Pan Jianzhong said that in recent years, he was no longer proud of foreign trade in the forefront of the province. In the financial crisis and the European debt crisis, the huge one has increased the development of the domestic market, and now has set up a sales network in nearly 30 provinces and cities.

Pan Jianzhong said frankly, from foreign market to domestic market, it is not so easy to switch from the outside to the internal market. On the way to the domestic market, there are brand, channel, market, human feelings and so on.

But with more than ten years' experience of overseas travel and advanced manufacturing capabilities, the giant also has the advantage that others have.

At present, the giant has hatched JUYI, EDS and other new brands integrating the world fashion elements and domestic market demand, and the market response is very good.

In addition, the giant also involves real estate, hotels, network technology and other industries.

After joining the WTO for ten years, the giant has pformed from an unremarkable Wenzhou shoe enterprise into a widely known regional comprehensive enterprise. In the past ten years, Pan Jianzhong has changed from "standing" to "unpuzzled".

The experience of big one is actually the experience of most Wenzhou enterprises.