Wei Jie

claudiamente@homtail.com

UPON entering the office of Romanian engineer-turned-executive Radu Gosav in Nanshan District, visitors are immediately drawn to a shelf displaying a dozen or so model airplanes. These models symbolize the tens of thousands of miles he has flown between Shenzhen and Europe over the past two decades.

Recalling his relocation to China in 2001 when he was a young, aspiring electronics engineer, the 50-year-old said he still remembers the day vividly and sometimes even celebrates it with his wife. Having advanced in his career during his time in Shenzhen, he now heads the EMC & RF division of TÜV SÜD North Asia.

‘I followed electronics to SZ’

Before moving to China, Gosav worked for an international company in Poland after obtaining a master’s degree in electronics engineering in Romania. “After a year in Poland, it became clear, as least to me, that the growth prospects were not in Europe, but in China.”

Motivated by the prospect of a good job and even a career, Gosav accepted a job offer from a Chinese electronics company based in Dongguan, Guangdong Province. “I thought I would give it a try,” recalled Gosav, even though the tough decision meant that he would have to leave his pregnant, newlywed wife in Europe.

Having decided that the job offer was too good to pass up, Gosav traveled to China, arriving at the Hong Kong International Airport on Jan. 6, 2001. From there, he crossed the border into Shenzhen before continuing to Dongguan.

Two years later, he joined TÜV SÜD, a global technical services provider based in Germany, when it was in its early stages of development in Shenzhen and only had 23 employees. With a reputation as a trusted independent authority for safety and compliance across various sectors, TÜV SÜD is well-known for its expertise in areas like product testing and certification, management system certification, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing, and environmental and sustainability services.

As the only member of the EMC department at TÜV SÜD's Shenzhen office in May 2003, Gosav handled all testing of pre-market products. EMC testing involves verifying that electronic products function correctly without interfering with other devices and ensuring they comply with relevant standards and international regulations.

With the rapid growth of the electronics industry in Shenzhen and Guangdong Province —  coupled with the fact that EMC standards apply to every device that needs electricity to function — the demand for such services increased steadily. Consequently, the number of employees in TÜV SÜD’s EMC operations in China quickly grew. The company currently has 50 people in its Shenzhen EMC department and a total of 250 across China.

Building career with TÜV SÜD in SZ

During Gosav’s early years at TÜV SÜD, his work primarily involved handling quality inspections for electronics components, but gradually expanded to include electronic and electrical products such as mobile phones. In 2018, his department started to venture into the new energy vehicle (NEV) sector.

This expanding client portfolio mirrored the industrial upgrades that Shenzhen and Guangdong Province underwent during the same period. The 2008 international financial crisis intensified the pressure on Guangdong to transition from an export-oriented economy dominated by processing trade.

Today, Shenzhen has successfully transformed from a labor-intensive manufacturing hub into an innovation-driven economy. The city is home to emerging industrial clusters, including next-generation mobile communications, LED display panels, high-end software services, semiconductor lighting, biomedicine, intelligent manufacturing equipment, and new materials.

“The quality and technological sophistication of the products made by Guangdong electronics manufacturers have steadily improved over the years, reaching internationally advanced levels and achieving strong global market competitiveness,” said Gosav.

As the electronics manufacturing industry in Shenzhen and China flourishes, Gosav and his colleagues find themselves increasingly busy.

Gosav was right about the potential of establishing a successful career in Shenzhen. Over the years, he has worked his way up the corporate ladder to become the manager of TÜV SÜD’s China EMC & RF division. His responsibilities have shifted from technical tasks to management, requiring frequent business travel to different branches across China.

In love with home away from home

Although Gosav initially kept an open mind about his stay in Shenzhen, he never expected to permanently settle in the city. However, life in Shenzhen proved to be both professionally and personally fulfilling. Last year, he even obtained a Chinese permanent residency card, widely referred to as a green card, which has his official Chinese name — Gao Lang.

“I do not see myself leaving Shenzhen, until maybe when I’m older. Perhaps after retirement,” he said, reflecting not only on his rewarding career with TÜV SÜD, but also his deep affection for the city. Gosav has turned down several job offers that would have required him to relocate to other cities. “I simply did not want to leave Shenzhen,” he resolutely stated.

Because Shenzhen has the “best public transport system in the world,” he stated that he has no need for a driver’s license or private car. “Shenzhen boasts an efficient and extensive Metro network, complemented by a fleet of electric buses that can take you to every corner of the city. When you are in a hurry, you can rely on taxis and app-based car-hailing services,” he explained.

Gosav noted that he didn’t believe Shenzhen could pull it off when it was announced as the host city for the 2011 Universiade in 2007, as the entire city was like a large construction site at that time. However, Shenzhen managed to complete all the preparation work well ahead of the event, with stadiums and venues for various competitions, as well as accommodations for athletes, all finished by 2010.

“From these experiences, I understand what 'Shenzhen speed' means. I see it realized here in Shenzhen," referring to the remarkable pace at which things happen.

“You seldom hear people here complaining or whining about what they lack or the difficulties they face. It resonates with the slogan I see in Shekou that says ‘empty talk endangers the nation and practical work brings prosperity,’” Gosav said.

Highlighting the pragmatic attitude of the city, Gosav shared that his colleagues and their clients always say, “There is no problem, only solutions we haven’t found.” He believes that this mentality is the driving force behind Shenzhen’s rapid and “electrifying development.”

The 2011 Universiade was also a pivotal moment for the city, providing an opportunity to significantly upgrade public infrastructure and enhance its service levels.

“Now look at the beautiful coastline stretching all the way from Futian to Shekou where residents jog and bike, as well as the Dasha River Ecological Corridor — You’ll see what I’m talking about,” Gosav said. He and his wife often take walks along the Dasha River, which is close to their home.

It seems that Gosav’s collection of airplane models will continue to grow. During the upcoming National Day holiday, he and his wife will fly to visit their daughter in London, where she is working after completing postgraduate studies last year. “We didn’t see her much over the past few years due to the pandemic. Now we plan to visit her four times a year,” said Gosav. He mentioned that he had dreamed of becoming a pilot as a young boy, but that dream was dashed due to his nearsightedness.