By Zhao Yongjin

Recently, a post on WeChat Moments by MOISEYENKO SERHIY, an entrepreneur from Ukraine and a new resident of Hai'an, unexpectedly brought Hai'an into the public eye. When his daughter was going through border control, an officer asked her where Hai’an was.

It is a city, where he has stayed for eight years. The question touched Sergei, who posted on his WeChat Moments: ‘Hai'an, this city has its own unique character and warmth. It deserves to be known by more people and remembered by more people.’

In 2018, Sergei’s factory was still in Ningbo. As his business continued to expand, he needed to expand the production scale. In order to find the most suitable new factory site, he and his team visited more than 20 cities around the area, and could not find the ideal one.

It was only when he entered Hai’an that the search finally found an answer. ‘I do not know why, I just feel it is the right choice.’ Now, when he recalled his first arrival in Hai’an, Sergei’s eyes still lit up with a smile, ‘If I have to give a reason, first, it just felt right at first sight; second, the sincerity of the people here makes me feel at ease.’

The sincerity, is not just a verbal promise, but a concrete action. Upon learning of Sergei's investment intentions, the Hai’an government immediately took the initiative to contact him, not only quickly recommending suitable land plots for him, but also arranging dedicated personnel to provide full-process follow-up services. ‘I did not expect that everything was so smooth in Hai’an, saving me so much trouble.’ said Sergei.

What surprised Sergei even more was Hai’an's well-developed industrial supporting facilities. Now, all the bending machines in the factory are purchased locally. ‘The transportation is also very convenient. Wherever the goods are going, they can depart quickly.’

Eight years have passed. Nantong Hunt Auto Parts Co., Ltd., founded by Sergei in Hai’an, specializes in the production of ATV and mountain bike components. The company offers over 1,300 product varieties, ships 25 forty-foot containers per month, and exports to markets including the United States, Canada, Australia, and the Middle East.

For Sergei, Hai’an's most precious asset is not only its comprehensive facilities and efficient services, but also its hardworking and down-to-earth workers.

Eight years ago, when the company was just established, Sergei hired more than 50 local workers. Now, almost all of them stay with the company.

In Sergei’s opinion, this enduring cohesion stems from Hai’an’s distinctive urban character. ‘People here are down-to-earth and hardworking, and prefer stable jobs.’

Apart from work, Sergei has already completely integrated his life into Hai’an. To improve his communication skills, he taught himself Chinese and can now converse fluently. ‘I am a foreigner. However, in Hai’an, I don’t feel like I am a foreigner. It’s like going back to my hometown.’

In his leisure time, Sergei has a special hobby—writing calligraphy. ‘Calligraphy is very charming. It can calm people down. In the process of writing, I can also better appreciate the profoundness of Chinese culture.’

Sergei’s family have fallen in love with this vibrant little town. Every weekend, they ride their bicycles through the streets and alleys of Hai’an.

In terms of food, Sergei had long been won over by the flavors of Hai'an. The richness and diversity of Chinese cuisine exceeded his initial expectations, and what he missed most was Hai'an's pufferfish.

What reassured Sergei even more was the growth of his children here. His youngest child attended kindergarten in Hai'an, where he made a group of like-minded friends and received meticulous care from his teachers over the past three years.

In Hai’an, Sergei found a sense of belonging in his career and also found happiness in his life. ‘I sincerely hope that this warm and sincere city can be known by more people, and that more entrepreneurs like me can come here to settle down and realize their dreams.’

【背景阅读】

考察了20多个城市，乌克兰企业家在海安找到归属感

最近，一条来自乌克兰的企业家、新海安人MOISEYENKO SERHIY的朋友圈信息，让海安意外“出圈”。他的女儿在通过边检时，有个工作人员问及海安在何处。

一座城市，生活了八年。这个问题触动了谢尔盖，他在朋友圈发出感叹：“海安，这座城市有属于自己的气质与温度。它值得被更多人认识，也值得被更多人记住。”

2018年，谢尔盖的工厂还在宁波，随着业务不断拓展，他需要扩大生产规模。为了找到最合适的新厂址，他带着团队辗转考察了周边20多个城市，始终没有找到心仪的归宿。

直到踏入海安，这份寻觅终于有了答案。“说不上为什么，就是觉得选择这里对了。”如今回忆起初到海安的场景，谢尔盖的眼中依旧带着笑意，“如果一定要说理由，一是眼缘，二是这里待人的诚意，让我觉得踏实。”

这份诚意，不是口头的承诺，而是实实在在的行动。得知谢尔盖的投资意向后，海安政府第一时间主动对接，不仅迅速为他推荐了合适的地块，还安排专人全程跟进服务。“没想到在海安，一切都那么顺畅，省去了太多麻烦。”谢尔盖说。

让谢尔盖惊喜的，还有海安完善的产业配套。如今，工厂里所有的折弯机，都是本地采购。“交通也很便捷，无论货物发往哪里，都能快速启程。”

八年时光流转，谢尔盖在海安创办的南通汉特汽车零部件有限公司，专业生产沙滩车、山地车零部件，拥有1300多个品种，每月发出25个40英尺集装箱的货物，远销美国、加拿大、澳大利亚和中东等地。

对谢尔盖而言，海安最珍贵的财富，不仅是完善的配套和高效的服务，更是这里勤劳、踏实的工人们。

八年前，公司刚成立时，谢尔盖招聘了50多名本地工人，如今，这50多人几乎全部留在了公司。

在谢尔盖看来，这份长久的凝聚力，源于海安独有的城市气质。“这里的人踏实肯干，喜欢安定地工作。”

工作之外，谢尔盖早已把自己的生活，完完全全融入了海安。为了更好地交流，他自学中文，如今已能流利交谈。“我是个外国人，但在海安，我从不觉得自己是外国人，就像回到了老家一样。”

闲暇时，谢尔盖有一个特别的爱好——写毛笔字。“毛笔字很有魅力，能让人静下心来，在书写的过程中，我也能更好地感受中国文化的博大精深。”

谢尔盖的一家人，都爱上了这座充满生机的小城。每到周末，他们总会骑上自行车，穿梭在海安的大街小巷。

饮食上，谢尔盖也早已被海安的味道征服。中餐的丰富多样，超出了他最初的想象，而最让他念念不忘的，便是海安的河豚。

更让谢尔盖安心的，是孩子在这里的成长。家里最小的孩子，在海安上了幼儿园，三年时间里，认识了一群志同道合的小伙伴，也收获了老师的悉心照料。

在海安，谢尔盖找到了事业的归属感，也收获了生活的幸福感。“我真心希望，这座有温度、有诚意的城市，能被更多人知道，能有更多像我一样的创业者，来这里扎根、圆梦。”