A worried Mr Van den Hoven looks out of the car window.

"Everything empty, it's unbelievable."

He's on his way to two electronics factories in the district to see whether they have the material to make an electric shaver for him. Since the beginning of this year, finding the right factory has become more difficult, says the Dutch businessman.

"Many factories already closed at the beginning of January, in time for the Chinese New Year. And they've remained closed. Only in the last couple of weeks have many factories resumed their work, but they're often running with half the staff."

Spectre
It's now more important to inspect the factories with your own eyes, thinks the director of the Ask4Me design bureau.

"You have to see what staff have been sent home. Is it the experienced, but more expensive employees, or the low-cost workers? And will they survive until they have delivered your order?"

That's the greatest spectre: that your stuff is in production, and then the factory shuts down.

"Then you've lost your money as well as your goods."

The first factory has a sign outside: male/female workers wanted. The factory seems to be working, but Mr van Van den Hoven finds it quieter than elsewhere. A number of expensive integrated circuits are not in use.

"It costs a lot of money to have them standing idle."

Empty spaces
The other factory, a few kilometres away, is on a smaller scale, and can produce the electronic parts that he wants cheaply. But here too there are some empty spaces. The Chinese factory owner explains that half the staff have been laid off.

"We hardly receive any new orders."

The Dutch entrepreneur is now an important potential client - an advantage during the crisis, he believes:

"We're only a small player in China, but during the crisis factories are more keen to work with us. And I can also get small orders done more easily."

The negotiations go smoothly. Mr Van den Hoven assures the factory owner as he leaves:

"We're going to fill up your factory again."