Recruit targets Beijing-backed publishers in mainland foray

Recruitment magazine and Internet portal operator Panda-Recruit is planning to enter the mainland by linking with government-backed publishers, according to chief executive Robert Chow Yung.

'In China, you can't do the publishing business by yourself, everything is backed by the government,' Mr Chow said.

Panda-Recruit is in talks with leading publishing organisations in Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing to print Recruit and is in negotiations with railway operators for a distribution arrangement.

The mainland version of Recruit would either be distributed with Panda-Recruit's mainland partners' newspapers or given free at railway stations.

'Our mainland partners are responsible for getting all the necessary licences for publication,' Mr Chow said.

Since the content of Recruit would only be non-sensitive job advertisements, Mr Chow did not expect any difficulties in obtaining approval from Beijing.

Panda-Recruit plans to launch recruitment magazines in Guangzhou and Shanghai in the fourth quarter followed by a Beijing edition early next year.