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INTRO
As the Chinese economy continues to flourish, the country's universities and colleges are attracting an increasing number of international students.
And after finishing their studies, many of them are choosing to stay in China, to explore their opportunities in the world's second largest economy.
Mudar Abou Asi, a 32-year-old businessman from Syria, is just one of them.
In today and tomorrow's programs, we will bring you the Syrian entrepreneur's story and how he set about pursuing his dream in China.
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SUBTITLE: STUDYING IN CHINA
Mudar grew up in a city south of Damascus, Syria's capital.
After graduating from Damascus University, he decided to continue his studies abroad, and chose China.
SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): MUDAR ABOU ASI, Syrian entrepreneur
"Because as I told you before, we are very interested in the culture here, it's new for us, and China is with potential, as we can touch the market there, so I consider these two things to make my decision. And today I can feel it was a very correct decision."
In 2004, Mudar went to a university in northeast China' s Changchun city to learn Chinese.
One year later, Mudar transferred to south China's Guangzhou city for his post-graduate studies at Sun Yat-sen University.
Thanks to his own diligence and help from his teachers and classmates, Mudar obtained his master and PhD degrees in chemistry and environmental engineering from the university.
SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): MUDAR ABOU ASI, Syrian entrepreneur
"All of them, everyone, students and teachers, come to help me, to push me, to make me feel really this place as my home. I don't need to feel I'm far away from home. So I'm really very thankful for them. Without their help I could not have my PhD today."
SUBTITLE: BUSINESS VENTURES
Guangzhou, a major business hub in China, is also the host city of China's largest import and export gathering, the Canton Fair.
While studying in Sun Yat-sen University, Mudar found himself in the perfect position for doing business, as he was able to contact potential business partners from across the globe.
He started his business venture by offering translation and business assistance for international traders attending the Canton Fair.
This enabled him to make contacts among the businessmen and investors, who quickly helped him master the practicalities of business.
In 2009, while he was still a PhD candidate, he set up his first trading company, the Guangzhou Discovery Import & Export Co. Ltd.
But the firm was immediately challenged by the spreading global financial crisis.
He received warnings and objections from relatives and friends, but the young entrepreneur decided to carry on with his plans.
SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): MUDAR ABOU ASI, Syrian entrepreneur
"For six months I had not done any business at all. I just lose money as company cost and fees for six months. After 6 months, I succeeded to do one deal, one order. And I earned a lot of money. It was enough for me to make the company survive for 3 years. So that time was the start, and my beliefs really became truth."
After getting his PhD in 2011, he put his well-prepared business plan into practice and became a full-time businessman.
He said he could not keep himself away from a booming market as huge as China's.
SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): MUDAR ABOU ASI, Syrian entrepreneur
"If you consider the Chinese market, I believe it is a very strong market. I call it the strongest market in the world, since Chinese people are the biggest nation in the world. So this market is strong because population is big first of all; second, for the people who do business, I feel this place do not have tough issues to start your business. At least you can start."
After surviving the financial crisis, the trading company started to grow rapidly as the local export market rebounded.
The company succeeded in exporting a large volume of Chinese commodities to overseas markets, especially in South America and the Middle East region.
But the aspiring entrepreneur was not satisfied with just owning one company in China.
In 2011, Mudar and his partners ventured into e-commerce, a totally new area for them.
They developed Mamarow.com, an international B2B website to help international buyers, sellers and suppliers communicate and do business through one platform.
The website has helped more than 5,000 companies and shops from around the world.
And it continues to grow.
SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): MUDAR ABOU ASI, Syrian entrepreneur
"I can give a rough number for the Mamarow.com, because Mamarow is going to make very big explosion at the end of this year. It will be everywhere. Our marketing budget for the coming 3 months, just for Mamarow, is 10 million dollars, because we believe this money will make very big 'explosion' around the world to make more people involved in this website."
TAG
In tomorrow's China Report, we bring you the second part of this entrepreneur's story.