On 15th October, AfriqAsia Merge took a trip to the Makola shopping Mall, where we got to interview Auntie Emma, a Shop owner whose trade takes her on frequent trips to China...
What does trade with China really entail ?.... Let`s Find out...
AfriqAsia
Merge: Mama please
tell us about yourself and a bit about what you do.
Trader: My name is
Auntie Emma, I trade in China goods, we go and buy from there and we come and
sell.
AfriqAsia
Merge : Do you have any kids?
Trader: I have four kids. Two boys and two girls.
Trader: I have four kids. Two boys and two girls.
AfriqAsia
Merge : And where is your shop situated?
Trader : Accra
Shopping Mall.
AfriqAsia
Merge : How long has it been since you started trading with China.?
Trader : It`s been
about 4 to 5 years…
AfriqAsia Merge: And who introduced you to this kind of trade with China?
Trader : A
friend of mine took me there for the first time, and
introduced me to some of the Chinese traders there.
AfriqAsia
Merge: How was your first experience like?
Trader : Well that was my first trip and first attempt,
and the stuff I brought were not as patronized as I expected it to be.
AfriqAsia
Merge : What kind of stuff did you import on your first visit to China?
Trader : Stuff like
earrings, but unfortunately, up till now, I still have some of those earrings
from the first trip, but now I have become more conversant with the demands of
the trade so when I bring the stuff it is well patronized.
AfriqAsia
Merge : Do you take just the earrings or do you sometimes add other items?
Trader: Earrings,
chains, bangles, and other stuff…Sometimes I
take other items depending on how business is going…so when I go, I pick other items that I feel may do well
on the market.
AfriqAsia
Merge: So, how often do you go to China?
Trader: That really
depends on how well the items sell on the market. But say in a year, I may go
to China like twice or three times for trade items.
AfriqAsia
Merge: Please explain to us a bit, how is it like when you get there? Where
do you lodge? Who shows you around? Do you have Chinese friends who help you
out?...
Trader: When we go,
we lodge in a hotel. We have agents, who are Chinese and they are the ones who
take us to the market because we do not understand their language. So, the
agents take us to the market to look around, It`s a very vast area. The
agents are the ones who help in
introducing us to the Chinese traders and shop owners, and as we go we have
samples that we show to them, so the one that the factories can make for us,
they make it for us. The ones that they are not able to make for us, we go
elsewhere to look for them.
AfriqAsia
Merge : So, talking about the Chinese, you mentioned that you did not
understand the language, so how do you really manage in terms of communication?
Trader :Well, it`s true that not all of them understand the English
language but there are also some who can communicate quite well in English. So,
those ones who are quite fluent in English take us through the trading
process. So when we enter the shops and
express what we need in English, they convey it to the Chinese traders on our
behalf.
AfriqAsia
Merge : So does the language barrier impede or affect the trade process in
any way?
Trader: Yes.
Sometimes, there are mistakes. The translator may not convey the message
accurately, so by the time the items arrive, we discover that they are not
exactly what we requested.
AfriqAsia
merge : So do you have any desire to study the Chinese language?
Trader : Oh yes, we
would love to. It`s just that we feel that age and time is not on our side. But
also, the Chinese traders themselves have realized that most of us speak
English so they have encouraged their kids to learn English so they serve as
the intermediaries. It is not common though, this can only be observed in a few shops but it shows how determined they
are to communicate with us.
AfriqAsia Merge : Then we also have to sit up and
try and learn the Chinese language. At least, a few words will help to
communicate better…
Trader : Yes, indeed, we know a few words in Chinese,
AfriqAsia
Merge : Can you mention a few of those words to us..?
Trader :(Laughing)..
I could… I could…but, (laughing)...
AfriqAsia
Merge : So, apart from the language, what are the other challenges or
difficulties you sometimes face when you go to China to trade.?
Trader : Well,
when we arrive, we go to a place called “YU”, they refer to it as a village but
I see the place to be well advanced .Unlike Guangzhou which is a city, where
many Chinese understand English, most of
the people in "Yu" cannot communicate in English and sometimes even when you
approach someone for a little help or direction, he may ignore you due to the
language barrier. Some also avoid you, which some foreigners may interpret as
fear or insecurity but sometimes its all due to the language barrier.
AfriqAsia
Merge: Alright. ..And are there any issues when it comes to transportation of
goods to Ghana?
Trader: Oh that`s
not really a problem. When we place the order, we lodge in a hotel for one or
two weeks. When it’s ready, you go to the Warehouse for your wares. The only
place where we face problems is at the Tema Harbour in Ghana, when the goods
arrive. They make too many demands before releasing the
items. But in all, after the goods are sent from China, we receive them after a
month.
AfriqAsia
Merge: So, do you have personal relations with any of the Chinese, as in
Chinese friends, outside trading partners?
Trader: I don`t
really have any Chinese friends apart from the agent who takes me round. But i
must say it`s been five years since i started trading with these Chinese
companies so most of them regard me as a regular business partner and they
really give me a warm reception when i go there.....(To be contd....)
Note: This interview was originally conducted in Twi, and translated into English. All of the content and ideas are strictly retained.
AfriqAsia Merge....
bridging the gap...embracing the difference..
