A young Uzbek entrepreneur has built a thriving export business in Yiwu, east China's global small commodities hub, shipping solar tech and daily goods across borders.
His monthly orders now exceed several hundred thousand yuan, driven by the city's booming cross-border e-commerce scene and a sharp eye for market demand.
Feilong, as he's known in Chinese, primarily exports high-quality Chinese products to Uzbekistan. Drawn by a passion for computers and a vision of China's market potential, he arrived in 2017 as a student. After graduation, he quickly spotted an opening in the e-commerce sector and chose Yiwu as his launchpad.
"I believe Yiwu is the best place in the world to do business, which is why I chose to be here. Since then, I gradually learned how to source products, where to find affordable goods, and how to seek out customers, marking the beginning of my e-commerce journey," he said.
Initially focused on mobile phones, Feilong quickly spotted rising demand in Uzbekistan for solar products and everyday goods. He pivoted to meet the market, expanding into clothing, lithium batteries, and other categories, fueling rapid growth in his business. Currently, monthly orders for solar inverters alone exceed 100,000 yuan (over 14,000 U.S. dollars).
"He is the first customer from Uzbekistan in our store. Starting this year, his sales volume has gradually increased, and he now places orders of around several hundred thousand yuan each month," said Wang Li, a business operator in Yiwu's international trade market.
In just three short years, he has built his own small team and set up warehouses in cities such as Yiwu, Guangzhou, and Urumqi. He has also established long-term partnerships with local suppliers and logistics providers.
"From Yiwu to our country, delivery takes about 10 days at the fastest, and around 12 to 15 days at the slowest. Once the goods arrive, customers can pick them up immediately and have them transported directly to Tashkent, the capital of our country," he said.
In Yiwu, the cross-border e-commerce community from SCO countries is rapidly expanding. These entrepreneurs not only export high-quality Chinese products but also bring distinctive goods from their home countries into the Chinese market, enriching trade on both sides.
"Currently, we send Chinese products to our country, and in the future, we also hope to bring unique products from our country to China," he said.
Uzbek entrepreneur rides Yiwu's e-commerce wave to build thriving business
