Frontier E-Commerce

IZP Technologies Co. Ltd., one of the country's leading cross-border e-commerce and payment system companies, is planning huge investments in Kyrgyzstan to facilitate trade between China and other Eurasian countries.

According to Luo Feng, Chairman of IZP, the company plans to establish a trading center near the international airport in Bishkek, the capital of the landlocked Asian country which borders the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and use the project as a platform to exhibit products and promote business deals.

The proposed project is part of the company's broader investments in Kyrgyzstan. Tapping into the geographic importance of Bishkek, the company also plans to establish a product trade center, a bonded export processing center and a financial settlement center in Bishkek.

With its edge in cloud computing and data mining technologies, the company will provide technological support for Kyrgyzstan's industrial upgrade, Luo said.

Budget Airline Listed

Spring Airlines became China's first budget carrier to list after its initial public offering (IPO) of 2.5 billion yuan ($410 million) on the Shanghai Stock Exchange on January 21.

The stock, with up to 100 million shares, rose to the limit on its first day of trading, closing at 26.15 yuan ($4.21) per share from its issue price of 18.16 yuan ($2.92).

The company said in its IPO prospectus that it planned to raise funds to purchase nine new Airbus 320 aircraft as well as three new flight simulators.

Industrial observers said the stock of Spring Airlines is much higher than those of China's four listed commercial airlines, including Air China and China Eastern Airlines, indicating the carrier's stronger profitability.

The airline reported a net profit of 270 million yuan ($43.48 million) in the first half of 2014 amid a tough year for the civil aviation market. Experts estimated its yearly profits would rise by more than 10 percent in 2014.

Food Business Diversified

Goubuli, a renowned Chinese restaurant chain known for its steamed stuffed buns, announced it has finalized a deal with Gloria Jean's Coffees to operate the Australian brand in China.

According to the deal reached on December 25, 2014, Tianjin Senyongtai Food and Beverage Co. Ltd., a subsidiary wholly owned by the Goubuli Group, will hold an 80-percent majority stake in Tianjin Glory, a new joint venture that will operate Gloria Jean's coffee brand in China, said Zhang Yansen, Chairman of Goubuli on January 21.

The Australian firm will hold the remaining 20 percent of shares, he said.

"Our negotiations began at the end of 2012 and lasted for almost two years," said Zhang.

He said the new deal will increase Gloria Jean's outlets in China to 200 in the coming five years.

Goubuli, established in 1858 and headquartered in the northern port city of Tianjin, reported 1 billion yuan ($16.1 million) in business turnover last year.

Salary Growth Prospects

Companies are likely to invest more in benefits, training and career development to attract and retain the best talent this year, said a latest annual Global Salary Survey from global specialist professional recruitment consultancy firm Robert Walters on January 22.

The survey suggests that job movers received 15-25 percent salary growth on average in 2014 while those who stayed at their current companies received increments ranging between 6-8 percent. These trends will continue in 2015.

The survey also indicates that professionals now view Chinese companies as an attractive employment option due to their promising prospects and competitive remuneration packages, which often include employee stock options.

The salary gap between Chinese cities and cities in other countries is narrowing, according to Zhou Lulu, Associate Director of Robert Walters Beijing. A Chinese chief financial officer with experience of IPOs can earn as much as a foreign professional holding the same position.

"The Chinese market is attracting foreign professionals like a magnet, and such appeal will continue in 2015," said Zhou.