Keith Peiris, the 12-year-old
boss of a web site design company, Cyberteks Design, is probably the
most noticeable figure among the 600-strong "Team Canada"
accompanying Prime Minister Jean Chretien to China.
In an
interview with Xinhua Thursday, Peiris insisted that he is "just
like any other kid." But few children make decisions he has made,
like exploring business opportunities across the world and starting
business in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong in a few
months.
Peiris described his trip to Beijing as "very
impressive" and the Great Wall as "spectacular", regretting that he
was not given enough time to climb to the top.
Peiris's
analysis of Shanghai also sounds convincing although this is his
first time to be in shanghai. Shanghai is indeed a commercial
center, he said, noting that his visit to this fast-paced metropolis
has been "fruitful" and he has met peers counterparts from the
network industry.
Despite his age, Peiris knows very well
that being CEO means he has to shoulder responsibility and address
tough issues. "It was not easy to start with," he admitted,
recalling some bad experiences he had with would-be customers scared
off by his tender age. "But things are getting better," he said
cheerfully.
When asked about his plans, Peiris affirmed that
he "wants to invest in China" and will set up an agency in Shanghai,
because " there'll be more opportunities here, particularly after
China's WTO entry."
Peiris founded Cyberteks Design in June
1999. Presently he has 25 clients in North America and 7 offices in
the US. The company 's annual revenue is a six-digital number.
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