Alibaba Begins Campus Recruitment

B2B e-commerce firm Alibaba (1688.HK) announced that it would begin its annual campus recruitment program, under which it expects to recruit more than 3000 new employees from 59 schools nationwide by next July.

Positions covered by the latest recruitment program include website operations, technology, and sales department positions. More than 360 of the positions are in the company's technical development center, and new graduates will also be recruited for phone sales.

Alibaba's subsidiary companies also announced their plans for Q4 recruitment. Taobao will recruit nearly 300 people; Alipay, nearly 100; Yahoo Koubei, 71; and Alisoft, 20.

Alibaba sets South China operating headquarters in Guangzhou

Alibaba<1688>, the largest B2B e-commerce portal in China, has signed a MOU with Guangzhou Municipal Information Industry Office on making Guangzhou Alibaba's operating headquarters in South China, sources reported.

One of the main focuses of the new headquarters is to promote the e-commerce of those small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Guangzhou so that they can better explore the overseas as well as the domestic markets. Moreover, the headquarters will help train more e-commerce talents and build a better e-commerce environment in the city.

Besides, this move is expected to enhance Guangzhou's competitiveness in international economic and trade cooperation and speed up the economic integration of the Pearl River Delta, said sources.

Based on Alibaba's information service platform, Guangzhou will provide support to some key markets and enterprises covering automobile, steel products, computer, video, plastic, fruits and vegetable, as well as pharmaceutical sector.

It is also reported that the relevant bodies of Guangzhou municipal government will issue the detailed development plan soon.

Canton Fair Refuses Alibaba, B2B Entry

Nearly all business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce companies are being excluded from the 103rd China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair), reports 21st Century Business Herald. After being cited for self-promotion without intention to trade in previous years, Alibaba.com (1688.HK) has been barred from entering the event, while Guangzhou-based Global Market Group Limited (globalmarket.com) has been rejected for its B2B company status, said the report quoting related insiders.

According to B2B promoters stationed outside the fair, the rental price for space outside the venue is higher than that of indoor booths. Global Market plans to use advertising blimps during the event to supplement its hotel, metro and bus advertisements, said a company employee.
This year's Spring fair is being attended by 18,721 companies, a 24 percent increase from last year, including 514 foreign enterprises, reports Xinhua quoting event spokesman Xu Bing. The fair kicked off on Tuesday and will run in two separate phases through April 30, said the report.

EC21.com, Global B2B major, Strengthens Sales Operations in India

(openPR) - Seoul, Korea - EC21.com, the world’s leading B2B marketplace for buyers and sellers is strengthening its presence in India with focus on key industry segments and special promotional plans to target big number of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the region. The company, which made its foray into Indian market earlier this year by opening its sales and marketing office in Coimbatore, provides online marketing services and promotional tools to buyers and sellers to find new trade opportunities and promote their businesses online.

Globally, EC21 is recognized as a pioneer in B2B e-commerce that helps SME suppliers to promote their business to the worldwide buyers, and provides an easy sourcing platform to buyers to find and reach new suppliers 24/7 through its business-to-business portal ec21.com. EC21 provides free and premium membership services using which suppliers can easily create their own homepage to showcase products online, locate and contact global buyers, and post trade offers to sell. Buyers can easily locate and contact suppliers, and can post offers to buy.

The opening of new Indian office was formally announced in an official function held in Coimbatore earlier this year in September. The launch event was attended by over 50 key press and media representatives along with senior Management of EC21 Inc, Korea head office that included Mr. Kim Tae Sung-Executive Vice-President, Mr. Song Young Look- Managing Director and Mr. Vivek Batra, Global Head-International Business & Strategic Alliances.

On the occasion, Mr.Taesung Kim said, “ We are pleased with the opening of our new Indian office. India is one of the fastest growing and emerging economies with an increasing demand and need for business support. Our site can greatly help Indian manufacturers, suppliers and exporters to promote their business to the worldwide buyers easily and in most cost effective ways. We have many success stories from all around the world and now we want to extend same benefits and advantages to Indian companies to grow their business”, he added.

The Indian office based in Coimbatore will be headed by Mr. V.Suresh Kumar, with sales and service personnel operating directly from strategic locations around the country. The new office will serve both existing and potential new customers and now Indian customers can directly contact local sales representatives in India for any inquiries or interest in availing EC21 services.