STORY: Taiwanese entrepreneur embraces pet economy in mainland city
DATELINE: June 18, 2023
LENGTH: 0:01:36
LOCATION: XIAMEN, China
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Chu Hui-ning working as a pet communicator
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): CHU HUI-NING, Taiwanese living in Xiamen city
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): CHU HUI-NING, Taiwanese living in Xiamen city

STORYLINE:

Chu Hui-ning from China's Taiwan came to the eastern Chinese city of Xiamen in 2016. She works as a pet communicator, embracing the booming pet economy in the Chinese mainland.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): CHU HUI-NING, Taiwanese living in Xiamen city
"In fact, as people's living standards are getting better and better, more people will keep pets, and more young people already begin to choose pets as companions. Then I found that the pet economy is a future trend. The occupation of pet communicators actually emerged in Taiwan 20 years ago. However, in the Chinese mainland, there are not as many pet communicators. I thought it would be a future trend and a "blue ocean." So, at that time, I decided to devote myself to pet communication, in the pet economy. I saw a huge number of pet owners in this market, which would give rise to such an industry."

Chu spent 5 million yuan (about 701,600 USD) to establish the Asian Animal Communication Alliance. She promoted pet communicating online and also contacted pet hospitals and pet shops for cooperation.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese) CHU HUI-NING, Taiwanese living in Xiamen city
"I think young people in Taiwan can choose Xiamen as their first stop for entering the mainland market because the food and the culture are very similar to Taiwan. They would feel at home here. In fact, the local government has given great support to Taiwanese young people who start their businesses here. I feel very touched. Because in the process of starting a business, especially one in an emerging industry, it's very important to feel supported, which further fueled our motivation to explore this untapped market."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Xiamen, China.
(XHTV)