Boss seeks new revenue sources in China after the global financial crisis in 2008

Minda Ho, China president of industrial gases supplier Praxair Inc, said he was a bit timid when he first landed in Beijing some 17 years ago.

Even holding a PhD in chemical engineering from Carnegie-Mellon University, the Chinese-American had very limited first-hand knowledge about the vast country that was just becoming known to the outside world. He quickly discovered the only recipe to survive was "to act humble and keep learning", he said.