One of a kind

Each annual report is unique. The graphic images, colors, designs, typefaces and even the types of paper that makes up a document are decided by what each company wants to convey to its readers.

"We have to 'educate' some new clients who have never had a well-designed annual report, to let them know how we work and why our work is important."

Although everything's now online, Yap still thinks his work is valuable. He doesn't worry about plagiarism, he said, because a high-quality financial report is unique to the company that it was deigned for.

"The Chinese mainland market is exciting and has huge potential. We are trying to inject thought-provoking designs, instead of just using nice colors and pictures," said Yap.

"Since the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission told State-owned enterprises to assume more social responsibility, we have seen a jump in the CSR report market," said Mo.

"I am sure the market will boom in the next few years, with strong demand from the energy, mining, power sectors in China."

Both Mo and Yap believe that professional financial printers from around the world will find huge business opportunities in China. They cite China's reform of its IPO policies, the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, the overseas expansion of Chinese companies and the market reform of SOEs as factors generating opportunities.

Although the Chinese government doesn't supervise or regulate the financial printing industry yet, "I think the authorities, say the China Securities Regulatory Commission, will issue guidelines for the sound development of the market," Mo said.