Investor from Taiwan honored in Guangdong

An investor from Taiwan, Curtis Shih, said he was honored and happy to receive the May 1st Labor Medal of Guangdong province.

"I hoped more business representatives from Taiwan can win the honor and shoulder the responsibility that enterprises should bear in society in the years to come," said Shih, general manager of Sunspring Industry Co.

Shih was awarded the prize in Guangzhou on April 28 for his positive contributions in boosting economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation between Guangdong and Taiwan and promoting peaceful, integrated development.

Shih came to Zhaoqing in western Guangdong and established a metal manufacturing plant in 1997, when he found myriad opportunities on the mainland.

His company produces mainly high-quality kitchen and bathroom accessories, auto parts, door handles and similar products. The company now employs more than 2,000 people.

He praised the great economic achievement the mainland has made over the decades.

"In 25 years, Zhaoqing's development has surprised me a lot, as the many sugar cane fields of the city have become modern urban areas with a forest of skyscrapers," he said.

Shih said he pays special attention to the welfare of his employees and their working and living environment. The happiness of families is important, he said.

Last year, Shih renovated the company's toilets after he received complaints from staff that facilities were poor.

He is also concerned about the education of his employees' children and the lives of left-behind children in their hometowns.

Shih said he encouraged his employees to communicate more with their children and learn to balance work and family life. When their children have winter and summer holidays, Shih encourages family reunions, allowing children to better understand their parents' working environment and hard work, he said.

"Now many second-generation employees are willing to work together with their parents in the company," he said.

Shih said he hoped more young people from Taiwan would come to the mainland to understand its development and take advantage of the business opportunities.