In a recent interview, Jiang Yan, a native of Hengyang, Hunan, shared her inspiring journey as an overseas Chinese entrepreneur promoting the agricultural products of her hometown in the Philippines since 2010. “Whenever I travel back to the Philippines, my backpack is packed with jars of pickled vegetables, dried radish, and cucumber peel—genuine flavors from home. Working in the agriculture sector, I aspire to set up a center in the Philippines that showcases Hengyang’s unique agricultural products so that more people can savor the tastes of my hometown,” she explained.
Hengyang is celebrated as a “land of fish and rice,” serving as a vital base for commodity grains, edible oils, and pork production in China. With a thriving tea-oil industry at the forefront, Jiang was deeply influenced by her agricultural roots from a young age. She began her formal education in agriculture at the age of 16 in Changsha, launching her entrepreneurial career immediately after graduation. Thanks to Hunan’s rich agricultural resources, conducive environment, and strong industry connections, Jiang’s path to entrepreneurship has been relatively smooth.
An unexpected opportunity led her to expand her efforts to the Philippines. In recent years, China and ASEAN nations have been keen on enhancing agricultural cooperation, with the Philippine government providing various incentives to attract agricultural investors. “A friend of mine, who works at a Chinese agricultural research institute in the Philippines, encouraged me to look into agricultural investments there,” Jiang recalled.
She quickly observed the lower competitive pressure in the Philippines along with the advantages of lower labor costs. Upon her arrival, she recognized the significant potential for agricultural investment due to the country’s rich natural and human resources, identifying agriculture, fisheries, and agro-processing as key sectors for development.
With a sharp business acumen, Jiang seized various opportunities by collaborating with agricultural research institutes in Hunan and Guangdong, introducing advanced agricultural technologies to the Philippines. She replicated her successful agricultural model from Hunan, which led to an integrated agricultural supply chain encompassing everything from pre-production to post-harvest processes while linking primary, secondary, and tertiary industries.
Today, Jiang’s agricultural park in the Philippines spans over 10 hectares and includes a diverse range of cultivation, livestock, and initial processing operations. The park has also expanded into tourism. “As our operations settled, I introduced crops from my hometown, like sweet potato seedlings and sweet corn, some of which have resonated well in local markets,” she shared.
Reflecting on the emotional ties that overseas Chinese maintain with their hometown cuisine, Jiang stated, “Food from home occupies a special place in the hearts of those living abroad.” She noted that the culinary landscape in the Philippines shares similarities with that of other Asian nations. Jiang often shares dishes and cultural traditions from Hengyang, such as sweet rice wine, fish balls, rice noodle sheets, and pickled vegetables, which have met with enthusiasm among her local friends.
After years of working abroad, Jiang’s overarching goal is to give back to her roots. In 2016, she founded Hunan Huqin Agricultural Technology Development Co., Ltd. in Changsha, focusing on exporting local products like tofu and grains to countries such as the Philippines and Malaysia. She also plans to establish a cross-border e-commerce industrial park that aims to strengthen friendly city ties and enhance cooperation across various sectors between Hunan and ASEAN.
When discussing the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Jiang expressed optimism about its potential benefits, particularly in fostering economic integration within the Asia-Pacific region. As an overseas Chinese entrepreneur, she aims to utilize this opportunity to strengthen connections between her hometown and ASEAN, actively supporting trade, cultural exchange, and collaboration. “My hometown is rich in agricultural resources and technology, while ASEAN offers a vast market with development needs. I truly believe we can achieve harmonious coexistence,” she concluded.
