Giving Back to Motherland: Adam Tong (IBBA 2011) Offers Unique Insights into Ningxia Development
After graduation from CUHK Business School, Adam Tong (IBBA 2011) embarked on the extraordinary journey to spearhead the development of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (hereafter “Ningxia”), a strategic bastion of China’s Belt and Road Initiative at the forefront of its grand plan to drive development synergy across regions.
Adam founded his own IT business after his undergraduate studies. Inspired by some of his collaborative projects in Mainland China, he decided to learn more about the development of the country himself. Several years into his professional growth, Adam enrolled on a Master’s programme in international relations at Tsinghua University, with a view to gauging the strategic progress of Belt and Road Initiatives in the ever-changing global political context. As he enriched his understanding, he met a lot of friends from the field. He came to notice that while Northwest China, unlike first-tier cities such as Beijing and Guangzhou, gave off the impression of a backwater region, it had its very own potential waiting to happen. Hence, he decided to contribute to the development of Ningxia, an important node on the Belt and Road economic corridor, as a public servant in the city of Yinchuan.
Building a New Ningxia
Looking back on the development of Ningxia, Adam said, “The industrial structure here was relatively primitive; we had to plan grassroots projects in rural areas to add value to and extend the industry chain from the very start, with initiatives such as strawberry farms and deep processing of agricultural products.” Meanwhile, he organised online promotion and live streaming programmes to capitalise on the e-business trends. The multi-pronged approach was expected to drive the momentum of growth in the region.
“Very much opposed to the cityscape of Hong Kong, Ningxia boasts a vast landscape framed by a clear sky round the year. Although not as glitzy, Ningxia is blessed with green parks throughout the city. People enjoy a slower pace of life in a pleasant environment,” said Adam, speaking of life in Ningxia.
Adam (first from left) and two friends in Western Xia mausoleums in Yinchuan, Ningxia
Tapping into Potential Opportunities
As regards the advantages of Ningxia, Adam gushed, “Ningxia and Northwest China is rich in land resources and low in land rent, making it a perfect place for industries with high land use intensity, such as commercial farming and logistics. The climate in Northwest China is favourable for agriculture too, with large day-night temperature difference and abundant daylight. One of the fellow alumni of CUHK operates a vast vegetable farm spanning 3,800 acres here in Ningxia, which is now a major vegetable supplier in Hong Kong.”
Adam is confident that the varied energy resources in Ningxia means a head start. “On one hand, coal reserves are aplenty in the region and nearby provinces as a traditional source of energy; on the other, Northwest China enjoys solid prospects for new renewable energy development thanks to the region’s abundant sunshine.”
According to Adam, Ningxia’s major potential lies in the innovation and technology sector and the creative industry, which still lag the national economy and rely heavily on foreign service providers. This is where talent in Hong Kong can come into play. “Hong Kong is blessed with a rich and quality talent pool in IT and creative design. I look forward to seeing more talents coming over and contributing their expertise to the huge talent market in Northwest China.”
Adam (second from left) and his wife Ann (second from right) turned out at the thematic exhibition in Yinchuan Xixia Wanda Plaza for the 25th anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong
Indelible Experience that Inspires Future Growth
During his undergraduate years in CUHK, Adam studied Economics and Finance. He looked high and low for a chance to cut his professional teeth and finally a golden opportunity came with the HSBC Young Entrepreneur Awards. Adam formed a team with Ann, then a classmate and now his wife, for the case competition. “Many of the contenders are elite, but I was motivated – not least by my own emulative propensities. For two weeks, we were completely wrapped up in our work as we prepared the submission of documentation. And our effort paid off – we were the only finalists from CUHK!”
Although Adam only made it to the top five, he was determined to realise his entrepreneurial dreams, with support from Prof. Michael Fung from CUHK Business School and Mr. Bernard Suen from the Centre for Entrepreneurship as mentors. Talking about his campus life in CUHK, Adam concluded, “Although I’m now in the public service sector, CUHK was the gateway to my entrepreneurial dreams. Today, I still benefit from the experiences and social network I had built on the way.”
Adam in front of Lake Ad Excellentiam in the CUHK campus with his wife Ann and his mentor Prof. Michael Fung (middle)