Could any friend who has work experience abroad share their experiences with us?

: (, don’t you have any relevant experience either?

Many of my colleagues have worked abroad, and according to them, there are both good and bad aspects. In Canada, they say that the management there is very people-oriented: one is required to take time off after three months, and if one doesn’t take time off, an application must be submitted. A request is also needed for working overtime. In West Asia, the local gangs are like bandits; there are frequent fights there, and law and order is poor. Abroad, it’s mainly a communication issue; without good English skills, it’s difficult to communicate

In West Asia, I’ve been to places where there are frequent fights; the security situation is poor, but I’ve never seen anything like that. Over there, everyone follows the YSL religion. The system is also very strict. Photography is prohibited on the streets, and the punishment for theft is amputation of the hand (sweat). Most of the workers employed there are from Pakistan, India, Malaysia, and other countries. Relatively few locals do physical labor. However, employees there who have formal employment contracts are highly protected; the law prohibits dismissal except in special circumstances or on a voluntary basis, even if they are not competent. Working in high temperatures is quite tough, but it also depends on the boss. I once met a Swiss boss whose philosophy was that everyone had to be \"HAPPY\", so the working atmosphere was quite relaxed. A project was completed in China in less than a year; they dare to take two or three years.

When working on projects abroad, claims are a very important aspect; it is said that they constitute an important part of the project’s revenue.

Thank you to the friends mentioned above. I’m not sure about the situation in Africa; if anyone knows, please share it.

China’s petrochemical companies operate in Asia, Africa, and Latin America; most of them are in Africa, and they can’t even get to the better locations. China’s characteristic has always been to acquire oil resources at low costs; it is at a lower level compared to Europe, the United States, and even Japan and South Korea, with inferior technical capabilities, management skills, and brand strength. The revolution is not yet complete; comrades must keep striving! It will take us a long time and much more effort to achieve the goals set by the “Party”!

This post was last edited by terephthalic on 2010-9-6 at 16:19. Moderator Benbenxuan, what is your job? Do you travel abroad often?

　　The Middle East will experience a construction boom in petrochemical projects over the next 5-7 years, making it a hot spot in the global petrochemical project market. In addition to established European and American companies, Korean and Japanese companies also have many projects. Chinese companies in the Middle East include Sinopec International Engineering Company (which includes Nanjing Engineering Company, No.4 Construction Company, and Ningbo Engineering Company), as well as CNPC’s Huanqiu and No.6 Construction Company. 　　The Middle East attaches great importance to Chinese companies; China possesses resources and is competitive in many areas. They need Chinese companies because they have expectations of Chinese enterprises – namely, lower costs; owners always seek the cheapest goods and services. In addition, many petroleum products are also sold directly to China, which has a consumption market that cannot be ignored. 　　Middle East projects can generally maintain around 30% profit margins, but it is difficult to make money there as high risks are involved. Market conditions are changing rapidly; local prices are rising while contract prices are falling. Contracts must be drafted in a standardized manner, with risks taken fully into consideration.

Let’s study together*; if there’s a chance to go abroad, hehe

My current bosses are mostly from Europe and the United States; as long as you are willing to work hard, they will take notice. Sometimes they complain during conversations, and they place more emphasis on equality than domestic managers do. Everyone feels more comfortable doing it, but the pressure is still high. I have a great colleague who has worked in West Asia and Outer Mongolia. In West Asia, certain ethnic aspects are taken very seriously; over the weekend, several people broke into his house and asked him why he didn’t pray. It seemed later that there were signs of war, and it was impossible to book flights back to home country; the reason for this was that many Japanese and Koreans chose to fly on Chinese airlines during such a difficult time, which is worth mentioning. Outer Mongolia holds deep resentment toward Chinese people, so it’s best not to go to places where they gather alone.