Tom from Israel poses with his girlfriend and business partner Naira. [Photo/zgyww.cn]

"I've been to a lot of cities around the world, and believe me, Yiwu is far and away but the most comfortable to live in, no question," said Tom, a 29-year-old Israeli businessman who owns an import and export company in Yiwu, Zhejiang province.

Tom first came to Yiwu with his father in 2012 and was stunned by city's huge small commodity wholesale market. He then started to travel between Israel and Yiwu, selling products for a generous profit and building up a client base.

Tired of the pesky flights and impressed by the city's irresistible expat policies, Tom decided to settle down in the city and set up a company.

The registration, which took only 10 days, shook Tom to his core and greatly boosted his confidence in Yiwu's greatness.

Today, his company sells over 500 products from Yiwu to dozens of countries, including the United States, Israel, and Germany.

"Walking on the streets, the friendliness and overall prosperity of the place just washes over you," said Tom.

Tom also has a soft spot for the local government, which he considers to be very considerate in helping foreign merchants, especially when it comes to expat policies.

The city hires foreign mediators, houses multiple international communities, and even encourages expats to speak their minds at government conferences, particularly when it comes to civil services.

Tom told local media that he hopes to stay in Yiwu and continue to expand trade between China and Israel.