Foreign entrepreneurs in Hong Kong lauded China’s soft power, particularly its culture, on Saturday, saying it deserves to be witnessed by more people firsthand. They expressed confidence that China’s ongoing efforts to further open up will amplify its appeal to international businesses and investors — creating even greater opportunities for the world to connect with its dynamic innovation and 5,000-year-old cultural legacy.
At a recent gathering with journalists from a Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) media tour, Irfan Karabulut, the Turkish co-founder of ATA Organic, shared his insights about doing business in Hong Kong. His company, which specializes in premium Turkish organic foods and hosts cultural workshops, serves as a bridge between Turkish and Chinese traditions.
Karabulut highlighted Hong Kong’s exceptional advantages as a commercial hub, noting its strategic location that provides easy access to major Asian markets, including the Chinese mainland, Japan and South Korea, along with its straightforward taxation system that facilitates international business operations.
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What also particularly struck Karabulut were the cultural similarities between Turkiye and China. He observed shared values around family, compatible business ethics, and certain linguistic connections that make commercial interactions smoother compared with dealings with Western counterparts.
While China has made strides in visa-free policies and business-friendly reforms, Karabulut believes more should be done to showcase its charm, especially its culture offerings.
“China needs to use soft power — what is that? It’s about culture, strong relationships, and making entry easy.”
The entrepreneur compares China to an ocean—vast and abundant: “If you’re an ocean, don’t worry about sharing your water. But if you’re a small lake, you fear the water will be finished. China is an ocean.”
The discussion also turned to practical business applications in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, where ATA Organic has been expanding its operations.
The company has moved beyond simple import-export trade to establish strategic partnerships in Guangdong province. These collaborations span traditional sectors like organic food production as well as cutting-edge fields like artificial intelligence (AI) and health-tech collaborations.
Marat Bogatyrev, Karabulut’s Russian partner and a gemologist with 14 years of Hong Kong experience, added his perspective on the Chinese mainland’s business potential. “Finding reliable local partners has been crucial to our success in the Greater Bay Area,” Bogatyrev said.
Looking to the future, ATA Organic plans several initiatives to deepen cultural and commercial ties. These include developing educational programs about traditional Chinese cultures in Hong Kong schools and further integrating their supply chains within the Greater Bay Area.
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Karabulut concluded with a vivid analogy about Hong Kong’s enduring value: “Hong Kong is one of the diamonds that you cannot easily get. But when you get the diamond, you get inspired and excited.”
Contact the writer at stacyshi@chinadailyhk.com
