Liefen Du, Board Director of CEFC China: “Cultural Differences Make Us Stronger and More Competitive”

Cultural and Linguistic Diversity

With the taking-over of the majority of shares by CEFC, Rompetrol enters a huge family. This time, we are not talking about the economic development it will have or the access to markets throughout the world, but about the organisational and cultural development which they bring about.

Owned by the national oil and gas company KazMunayGas from Kazakhstan, KMG International (KMGI, the former Rompetrol) performs major refining, petrochemical, retail, trading, and extraction operations, as well as industrial services. At the end of 2015, it comprised 55 entities, headquartered in 16 countries. In Romania, the Group operates the Petromidia Năvodari refinery, with a processing capacity of 5 million tons of crude oil per year, the Vega Ploieşti refinery – the oldest unit of this kind, in operation since 1905, and over 700 fuel filling stations, 230 LPG filling stations, 9,000 distribution points for gas tanks, 3 LPG bottling stations, and 6 warehouses.

6,000 Employees Speaking 10 Languages

KMGI is the third greatest taxpayer in Romania, accounting for 2.5 - 3% of the state revenue. Practically, just from the annual contribution of Rompetrol to the Romanian State, 48 modern hospitals, almost 16,500 kindergartens, and around 10,500 schools could be built. This huge contribution, the multinational company has a huge human and cultural value, ensured by its over 6,000 employees, with a range of 300 occupations. In KMGI, people speak, besides the universal English, 10 languages: Romanian, Georgian, Kazakh, Moldavian, French, Bulgarian, Spanish, Swiss, Russian, and Dutch. With the taking-over of the 51% majority of KMGI shares by CEFC, Chinese officially enters this linguistic universe. However, it is not the only cultural appendage, since CEFC has, in its turn, around 30,000 employees in 23 countries around the globe.

In an interview given to EVZ in July, at the Astana International Energy Exhibition, Mrs. Liefen Du, Board Director of CEFC China, practically the second person in the hierarchy of the Chinese investment fund, with operational revenues of EUR 38.9 billion (which develops, among others, the Silk Road), explained what this cultural and organisational diversity means.

Kindness, a Basic Corporate Value

CEFC corporate culture was created by the Company president, Mr. Ye, when CEFC was founded in 2002. He places value on the commercial code of conduct, namely “starting with power, finishing with virtue. This is the basic value of this corporation’s culture. It is a culture about kindness, which places people first. It puts morality on the first place when it comes to business. Thus, the company may offer its services to nation and society. The CEFC brand has at its core: the soul of the Chinese nation and its credibility. If someone wants to be successful, first of all, that person must help the others succeed”, said Liefen Du.

Although CEFC or KMGI employees come from different environments, they manage to complete one another. “The difference between the Kazakh and the Romanian culture comes from the differences in the national laws, traditions and religions, as there are certainly quite a few. We are all aware of this. However, this difference may be eliminated through complementarity and innovation, achieved through learning and tolerance, as well as through a good communication among parties. For example, KMG is a multinational company, having employees from 16 countries. These 6,000 employees have different colours, cultures, and beliefs, but they have already become a single family. With CEFC beside, a culture based on kindness will be shared. CEFC, together with KMG employees, will form this kind of synergies and will be stronger and more competitive in achieving our great cause based on kindness”, concluded the Board Director of CEFC China.

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