Page 67 - MASALA Magazine Vol.15 Issue 8 | December - January 2025

Simply, the rules are very clear. What I’ve How are the entrepreneurial opportunities from Holi, Diwali and any other pujas along
realised in the past few years is that my staff in China? the way. I can honestly say I’m closer to
are beginning to value a good work-life the Indian community here than the one
balance, as they too want to spend time Loads of opportunities to grow here, even in in Bangkok.

with their kids and their families. This is industries I’m not a part of. The beauty of How have you managed connections with
quite different from how things were several being in China is that I get calls from all over family and friends?
years ago. the world, either friends or acquaintances,
making inquiries about furniture, toys, I’ve always known where my priorities lay
How is your overall experience in building materials, sports equipment, you and give all my energy to family and work.
Guangzhou, knowing they have a name it. Things move quite quickly here I’ve made and continue to make frequent
completely different system in place? and everyone is hungry for business which trips to Bangkok to visit my parents and try
Great experience. They have more apps I can respect. my best to be back for things like birthdays
in China than in any other country in the Is the business an extension of family or Diwali whenever I can. Fortunately, I
world. Mind you, the apps here only operate endeavours or your own career path and have a good team at work, so should I need
in Chinese. Once you figure out how to use project? to take time off work, I know my office
the apps, it makes your life a lot easier. The can handle it. Especially with technology
kind of services and the variety of services Bit of both. Dad started the business in as such, if there’s anything that needs my
that can be provided here is something you Thailand in the early 80s, and my brother immediate attention, my staff contacts me
don’t see in other countries. and I saw an opportunity to grow in the through WeChat. I can basically work from
I made a point to learn the local language 2000s. Fast forward 14 years and I’m still anywhere.

to a level where I didn’t have to be reliant here! What’s next for Aakash Chugani?
on someone else. I did private classes for How have your interactions with the
a few months, but later on, I used a trick local Thai-Indian or Indian community For now, I’m in Guangzhou. I don’t see a
that my teacher taught me: pick 5-10 words in China been? need to make any moves at the moment.
a day and memorise them. In a week, let’s However, should an opportunity arise, I’m
say you have 70 words, out of which even The Indian community here is quite small happy to move back to Bangkok or another
if you remember 30-35, you’re still better and as such are warm and extremely helpful. country wherever that might be. I have
off than the week before. It took me a while Anytime I’ve needed any help or was craving no issues about picking up and moving.
to get used to living here, but after a couple some special meals, for example, it’s just a Moreover, I make around six to eight trips
of years, I can safely say China has become phone call away. They’ve always tried to a year to Bangkok considering a flight is less
my home; for now, at least. involve everyone in any activities or events than three hours from Guangzhou.

CHIRAG CHUGANI
is currently in Guangzhou and
has been for the past 16 years.

I was born and raised in Bangkok, and
lived there until I was 18. I graduated
from NIST in Bangkok and then moved to
Melbourne, Australia, for college. Despite
my time abroad, Thailand remains close
to my heart as my friends and family still
live there. After graduating from Monash
University with a major in Marketing,
I faced a career decision: pursue a
traditional marketing role or join the family
business. Inspired by my father’s success
in the export business, I chose the latter.
Although we had an office in Bangkok, I
worked under my uncle in Hong Kong
and China. I spent a year in Hong Kong
before moving to Guangzhou to run the
office. My time there revealed immense
opportunities in the region. After six years
of invaluable experience, I started my own
company in China. The decision was driven years ago. It’s hard to imagine now, but the I’ll admit, I missed Bangkok a lot during those
by the chance to learn, immerse myself city I moved to back then was completely early days. The familiarity of home felt far
in a dynamic market, and carve out my different from what it is today. away. But as I spent more time here, I began
entrepreneurial path. The language barrier was a huge challenge, to truly understand the culture, the people,
and there was a noticeable lack of a foreign and their incredible work ethic. I was amazed
Describe your first run-in with cultural community or international restaurants at the by the pace of technological advancement
differences. time. On top of that, many popular websites and how much opportunity the city offered.
My first “welcome to China” moment like Google and YouTube were blocked, Looking back, those initial struggles were part
happened on day one of arriving here, 16 which made adapting even more difficult. of what made the experience so rewarding.

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