In 2008, a Chilean businessman began seeking business opportunities in China, captivated by its people and vibrant atmosphere. After seventeen years, he made a life-changing decision: to sell his house in Chile and settle in Hainan with his wife and children, where they now officially reside.

He is Juan Ignacio Valenzuela and serves as Chief Operating Officer of Emonk Online, a cross-border B2B supply chain platform. Settling in Hainan with his family is far more than a simple move—it was a decisive choice.

“I really like China; I really like the culture. And I really like the safety of this country,” says Juan. He believes bringing his family to live in a place that is safe and developing so rapidly was the right decision.

Emonk Online was founded in 2020 and maintains offices in both Haikou and Zhuhai. As the business continues to expand, the platform now serves 12 Latin American countries, bridging Chinese manufacturers and markets across the region.

The policy advantages of the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) have been key to his decision to settle down here and have also shaped his business strategy. Speaking on this topic, Juan offered an example: Emonk Online is actively seeking local suppliers to make better use of the FTP’s tax rebate and exemption policies. Leveraging that alongside Emonk’s mature supply chain, he did the math: “It could increase up to 20% more in benefits just by working here in Hainan and also having the tax refund.”

Beyond sourcing locally, Emonk Online is also exploring ways to further streamline its supply chain by leveraging the trade liberalization and capital flow facilitation enabled by Hainan’s island-wide special customs operations. In Juan’s view, Emonk is well connected to Southeast Asia in Hainan, and the ease of capital movement here will provide favorable conditions for importing or exporting goods, especially when processing products before bringing them into or shipping them out of China.

The development of the Hainan FTP provides fresh opportunities, not only for Emonk Online’s growth but also for foreign-invested enterprises seeking to enter the Chinese market. “I think they shouldn't wait; they should come and understand the culture. Try to take as many benefits as possible, but don't think of it as a ‘right-now’ benefit. Think long-term,” says Juan. To those considering investing in Hainan, he offers this advice: “You can use it as a pilot if you want to enter China. Compared to other cities in China, there are a lot of incentives that you can have here in Hainan.”

Juan’s story affirms that the Hainan FTP is increasingly becoming the destination of choice for international entrepreneurs. Here, in this “promising” land, his business blueprint—spanning half the globe—is steadily unfolding.

This series is funded by the China Internet Development Foundation (CIDF) and co-producted by Hinews and Hainan International Media Center.