The People Behind the Partnerships
“We believe that in a world of automation, human connection is the ultimate currency.”
Our value lies in our people, our philosophy, and the trusted relationships we have cultivated over more than 16 years.
Our Philosophy: The Human Element
“Robots do the job, but humans add the value.”
This philosophy, articulated by our founder, guides every action we take. This isn’t just business. It’s relationships.
The CICHE Platform: Our 4 Pillars of Success
As a platform-based SME, our method of operation is built on four non-negotiable principles that transform global complexity into your competitive advantage:
In markets as small and connected as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Beijing, reputation matters. We don’t just find contacts; we open the right doors based on referrals and deep, trusted connections built over time.
关系
Chinese Guanxi
واسطة
Arabic Wasta
This cultural fluency is our differentiator. It allows us to build sustainable partnerships based on mutual respect and understanding. Our process is built on listening and understanding.
Our Story: A Legacy of Entrepreneurship
CICHE International Trade & Investment began as a family business, founded on Silesian entrepreneurship by Diana Cichy and her father, Czesław Cichy, a 50-year veteran of European heavy industry.
Guided by family mentors on her journey, Diana Cichy expanded the firm’s operations to Asia and the Middle East, living and operating across six countries.
The Polish surname “Cichy” translates into the Chinese characters
“奇 赫 (Qí Hè) — Striking Brilliance”
Today, CICHE is headquartered at the crossroads of global capital. The firm’s evolution continued in Dubai with the addition of Joanna Mindziak Carvalho, a key partner who manages our on-the-ground operations and client experience in the Middle East. This partnership seemed destined; in Polish, Joanna’s nickname is ‘Asia’ (A-s-i-a), creating a personal link to the very continent that has been a cornerstone of our firm’s identity and expansion.
Her collaboration with Diana is built on mutual trust, a focus on quality, and the effective realization of strategic goals. While our core focus is the China-UAE corridor, we continue to leverage our network as a broker for a variety of commodities and have even trained tourism destinations in Poland to serve high-income Arabic tourists, demonstrating the breadth of our cultural and commercial fluency.
Our Leadership Team
Diana Cichy is a Polish womenpreneur in international trade and a transformational business leader. As the “Connector of Dots”, she has over 16 years of dynamic, polyglot experience activating business innovation, leading cross-cultural teams, and driving growth in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
As Founder & CEO, she specializes in market entry, trade facilitation, and board-level advisory for multinational corporations and family offices. She has personally facilitated over 150+ high-value international projects, generating multi-million dollar deals and up to 80% revenue growth for partners.
A recognized UN Women mentor and speaker on transformational leadership, Diana is currently pursuing her Executive MBA at Hult International Business School in Dubai. She is multilingual in Polish, English, Chinese, and Italian, combining academic rigor with deep cultural intelligence in GUANXI and WASTA networks.
Diana Cichy Founder & CEO
Joanna Mindziak Carvalho Business Development Manager, MENA
Joanna Mindziak Carvalho is an experienced entrepreneur, project manager, and “Client Experience Architect”. At CICHE International, she leads business development and strategic projects at the intersection of Europe and the Middle East. She provides direct access to a wide range of premium services and key suppliers across the UAE, managing complex client projects with precision and efficiency.
With over 20 years of business and contract experience, Joanna has successfully executed more than 1,200 contracts for shipping products, including liquid fuels, biomass, wood, salt, coal, feed, and other bulk commodities. She specializes in contract negotiations, coordination of all parties involved, logistics management, rapid problem-solving, and inter-party communication, often resolving issues that appear unsolvable.
Joanna also designs and delivers professional training programs for businesses, helping companies optimize operations, improve cross-cultural communication, and enhance strategic decision-making. A graduate of economics and tourism, she is multilingual in Polish, English, and Portuguese.
“Joanna brings incredible energy, order, and class to our cooperation. Our joint efforts are based on reliability, trust, and an excellent understanding of the business context.”
– Diana Cichy, Founder & CEO, CICHE International
Our Global Footprint: Global Reach, Local Expertise
While our core focus is building bridges between Poland, the UAE (GCC/MENA), and Asia, our experience is global. We have successfully helped companies internationalize and establish themselves in key markets, including:
Asia: China, Japan, South Korea, India, Mongolia
MENA: United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt
Europe: Poland, France, UK, Germany
North America: United States