IN BRIEF (Page 14)

2012-11-09 10:05

Thumbs up for hands-on experience

2012-11-09 10:05

Mariane Cavalli, principal and chief executive of Warwickshire College, says she first considered the possibility of establishing a British further-education college in China four years ago while chatting to a business contact in a restaurant in China with poor customer service.

Sweet spot for investment

2012-11-09 10:05

The glitzy skyscrapers and bustling shopping districts in Beijing and Shanghai are no longer the only barometers of foreign direct investment in China. That baton has instead passed to the western regions of China, where cities with better infrastructure and an abundant talent pool are stealing a march over their bigger peers.

Stepping out of the shadows

2012-11-09 10:05

Stable, supportive financial environment draws foreign financial service firms to Chengdu

Navigating shipping success

2012-11-09 10:05

Shipping and oil conglomerate Maersk, consultancy firm Accenture, logistics major DHL, ecommerce major Amazon and cement company Lafarge are as different as chalk and cheese when it comes to their respective lines of business in China.

Siemens gets lowdown on getting smart

2012-11-09 10:05

Researchers at Siemens China produced their first "In China, for China" protective relay to market in April, and priced it 40 percent cheaper than the global version.

For Steinway, it's rhapsody in red

2012-11-09 10:05

Zhang Yuan, a 26-year-old Beijing resident who has been playing the piano for about 10 years, was on the verge of drooling over the Steinway in front of her. There was an ancient dragon logo on one side of the body. On the other were Chinese calligraphy carvings. The music stand took on the shape of a traditional Chinese fan, while the stool looked like a table for the guqin, a seven-string Chinese zither.

Ready for the big league

2012-11-09 10:05

Not satisfied with its rating as an important five-star tourist destination, An-shun, a small city in Southwest China, is looking to reposition itself by packing in more European tourist attractions to grab more eyeballs and attract visitors.

Made in Deutschland

2012-11-09 10:05

The names say it all: Audi, Armani and Dior - Germany is the country of technical brilliance, while Italy and France are the countries of fashion flair.

Private companies fly the flag on distant shores

2012-11-02 10:29

What they lack in resources, they make up for with the will to succeed.

Have work, need help

2012-11-02 10:29

For Wu Jianmin, the lack of human resources is the biggest challenge when it comes to the overseas expansion of a company.

Quotable

2012-11-02 10:29

"Instead of the big, trustworthy brands that many companies have used to good advantage up until now, more diverse portfolios of brands and niche products will be advisable."

IN BRIEF (Page 14)

2012-11-02 10:29

A local area network goes global

2012-11-02 10:29

TP-Link's brand image in Britain is representative of a new wave of privately-run Chinese tech companies that are going global with an emphasis on quality.

Cooking up success

2012-11-02 10:29

She is 54, but still makes heads turn with her tall, elegant looks, impeccable dress sense and business acumen. Though her face has graced the cover of Forbes magazine several times as one of the most visible faces of entrepreneurial success in China, Zhang Lan says her journey is still far from over. Zhang, chairwoman of the South Beauty Group, an upscale Chinese dining chain that has tasted success in the domestic market, wants her company to become the "Louis Vuitton" of the global dining market. Zhang wants her restaurant chain to be the place for high-end dining across the globe.

Tempering the overseas appetite

2012-11-02 10:29

Restaurant experts say Chinese chains must standardize to succeed in overseas markets

Pick-me-up for groggy weightlifters

2012-11-02 10:29

Foreign crane makers get uplift from government infrastructure projects.

Sitting pretty

2012-11-02 10:29

China may no longer be virgin territory for Western car companies, but there are still niche markets to explore, such as those for door and seat systems, window regulators and electric drives.

Expand and deliver

2012-11-02 10:29

With more buying and selling going on in the world's most populous market - particularly online - the world's largest package delivery company is looking to increase its role as carrier and deliverer of goods.

China and the missing knowledge link

2012-11-02 10:29

The time difference enables Ehrmann, manager of Jupiter China Fund in London, to get an idea of what has been happening in China without being hit by any sudden, unpleasant surprises.