丝路员工成长记⑧ | 北新建材：客户的“老朋友”&拼海外事业的“夫妻档”

A Top-notch Marketing Staff in BNBM Tanzania Who Dares to Fight

Fadhili Venus Chongwe

Joined CNBM in 2018

The Regional Manager of the Marketing Department of BNBM Building Materials Industry (Tanzania) Limited

"Sincerity is the best sales skill," said Fadhili. Fadhili joined BNBM Tanzania at its inception in June 2018 and currently serves as the Regional Manager of the Marketing Department of BNBM Tanzania.

He is diligent, practical and willing to work. He has been engaged in sales for more than 10 years, tasting the sweetness and bitterness of the profession. But he's been always devoted to hiswork, collecting industry information through multiple channels, keenly aware of market changes, and highly concerned about customer needs, problems and countermeasures. He has accumulated a wealth of working experience. He has an outstanding sales track record and a deep understanding of the Tanzanian market and customers.

In 2022, he found access to the maiden market in the western lake region of Tanzania, and made a great contribution to the rapid release of production capacity after BNBM Tanzania had been put into service. BNBM Tanzania achieved a significant increase in sales, an outcome partially attributable to the contribution of the sales team led by Fadhili.

During his five years of work in BNBM Tanzania, he has been dedicated to his job and completed all the tasks assigned by the company with excellence.BNBM Tanzania marks the first production base of the group's globalization strategy. Back to its inception in 2018, seeking a way of marketing was at the fumbling stage. Thanks to years of sales experience, knowledge of the building materials industry and market acumen, Fadhili assisted the company in formulating sales systems, sorting out delivery processes, screening quality customers and formulating risk control strategies, thereby ensuring both a smooth transition of marketing work and a compliant and smooth development of BNBM Tanzania. Under the effective operation of this system, BNBM Tanzania has maintained zero accounts receivable in the five years since its establishment.

In January 2022, the new plasterboard line built by BNBM Tanzania, one of the largest and most technologically advanced in East Africa, was completed and put into operation with product quality reached international standards. It is marking a milestone in BNBM's firm promotion of its globalization strategy. At the same time, the production capacity was enlarged several times compared to the previous, which brought a greater challenge to BNBM Tanzania's marketing team.

Worrying about what had worried the company, Fadhili blazed a trail in the maiden market. He ran around the five provinces of the lake region in the heat of the day in Tanzania, trying his best to sell the products. Through his unremitting efforts, BNBM Tanzania has owned more than 25 stable customers in the lake region, occupying a market share of more than 30%. In addition, he led his sales team to successfully develop the western market of Tanzania, as well as the markets of Uganda and Burundi, opening one new market after another. The quality of the products, whether the flatness of appearance, or internal strength, received wide recognition from customers upon their release to the market.

Fadhili is very good at maintaining customer relationships, as he often expresses sincere and warm care to his clients, thus gaining full trust from them. He treats his clients with true affection in the smallest detail, not complaining about the trivia and trouble. He sends greetings on holidays, keeps reciprocal courtesy, and shows care when clients are ill. He even spends his spare time helping his clients' children with their homework, assisting them in recruiting employees, arranging medical treatment for their families, etc. He is truly making friends before doing business. Once, the client SANYA's truck had a car accident on the way back from picking up the goods because of the slippery road at night. Hearing of the accident, he rushed to the scene at night to help deal with the accident, called an ambulance to take the driver to the hospital, contacted the traffic police to the scene to take pictures and preserve evidence, and stayed at the accident site to guard the goods until SANYA arrived at the scene. The client was so grateful that he came to the company in person afterwards to express his gratitude. Up to now, this client is the agent who only sale the product of BNBM Tanzania, a very rare case in the building materials industry in Tanzania.

Fadhili's down-to-earth, hard-working and diligent attitude, and his style of tackling difficulties and working hard embody the corporate cultures of BNBM, which drives the working enthusiasm of other local employees and builds a bridge of friendship for the cooperation between Chinese and local enterprises.

Personal Insights

I am a Muslim employee. Since I joined the company, I was attracted by its corporate culture of "a human community with a shared future". The company respects our culture and beliefs and gives us care, and we will work harder to repay the company. I am proud to be part of the BNBM Tanzania, and I will continue to work hard to achieve more progresses and accomplishments.

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现任北新建材工业（坦桑尼亚）有限公司生产调度

A Different Kind of "Romance" across Thousands of Miles

Within BNBM works a couple who are thousands of miles apart. One is in Tanzania, and the other is in Uzbekistan. They are separated by distance but stand by each other, offering support and encouragement. Together, they strive for the international development of BNBM, composing their unique "romantic" story. They are Zhang Hongxu from BNBM Tanzania and Liu Bin from BNBM Central Asia.

Zhang Hongxu, one of the earliest employees, joined BNBM Tieling branch as a control machine captain in March 2009. After entering the post, he quickly immersed himself in the process of equipment installation and commissioning. He diligently documented the professional knowledge he gained, the challenges he encountered, the solutions he found, and his reflections on the work. Until now, he has filled countless notebooks with such records.

branch in the same year. She witnessed the tenyears’ Diamond development journey of BNBM and became even more determined to contribute to BNBM. She is known for her down-to-earth and serious attitude, meticulous dedication, and eagerness to learn and progress. She has been repeatedly recognized as an "outstanding employee" and a "March 8th Red Flag Bearer". One can clearly see the qualities of an excellent employee in her.

These two individuals, who initially had no connection, came together because of BNBM and ventured abroad during a crucial period of advancing the company's globalization strategy. In 2022, for the sake of work, they gave up stable work and family life in China with Zhang Hongxu going to Tanzania while Liu Bin heading to Uzbekistan. They embarked on a shared dream, opening a new chapter of "romance" as an overseas couple, spanning thousands of miles.

Zhang Hongxu is an excellent technical talent who is familiar with gypsum board production processes and equipment maintenance. He has participated in multiple domestic gypsum board projects and technical improvement works. In 2022, he proactively applied to work at BNBM's gypsum board plant in Tanzania, taking on the role of production scheduler. He is responsible for the operation, maintenance, improvement, and optimization of the production line. With his extensive production management experience and profound technical expertise, he can quickly resolve various issues encountered during production, ensuring product quality and efficiency. He not only guides local employees in operating equipment but also trains them to acquire technical knowledge and safety standards.

Liu Bin holds the position of Director of the General Management Department at BNBM Central Asia, being responsible for various aspects of work including human resources, administration, and logistics. The tasks of the General Management Department are complex, but with her solid professional knowledge and flexible adaptability, she is always able to handle challenges with ease. She efficiently coordinates communication and cooperation among departments, providing strong support for smooth operation during the construction of the project in Uzbekistan. She attaches great importance to developing the professional competence and team spirit of local employees. By organizing various activities, she promotes communication and collaboration between Chinese and foreign employees, creating a positive working atmosphere.

As veteran employees, the overseas couple understand the importance of "sharing knowledge。and helping each other" and see it not only as anobligation but also as an honor.

The project construction requires more new employees. Therefore it is imperative to help them quickly adapt to the new environment, improve their professional skills, so as to enhance team cohesion and combat effectiveness and elevate the overall efficiency and level of the organization. This requires the spirit of "sharing knowledge and helping each other". Zhang Hongxu shares his work experience and tirelessly assists newcomers, explaining and demonstrating tasks, and providing them with practical opportunities. Liu Bin imparts work methods, enabling newcomers to quickly get into the work pace and improve their efficiency.

Liu Bin and Zhang Hongxu, despite being thousands of miles apart, communicate with each other every day through phone calls or video chats, sharing their work and lives and giving support to each other. She told him that while managing the canteen, she also learned to make Hand-Pulled Noodles. He told her that he taught a new apprentice a new skill today. He mentioned that his mother called saying the kid was sick and looking for the mother. She replied that the mother-in-law is the best grandma in the world, and with the grandma taking care the kid, she is grateful. They admitted that sometimes they felt lonely and tired, but they also said that even though they are far apart, they are always shoulder to shoulder...

When the night falls, after a busy day of work, Zhang Hongxu and Liu Bin connect through a video call that spans thousands of miles. With a few greetings, caring or encouraging words, they create their own unique "romance", eagerly anticipating their next meeting.

Personal  Insights

Zhang Hongxu: I joined BNBM right after graduation from university and have been with the company over decade. I love BNBM, so wherever BNBM needs me, that's where I will go. I hope that my professional skills and strong abilities can contribute to BNBM's globalization. Liu Bin: After working at BNBM for many years, I consider it my home. I am willing to strive and make efforts to make my home even better. I use all available time to study and enhance my abilities in various aspects. Through practical actions, I prove that women at BNBM can hold up half the sky.