A recruiting business is easy to start. All it takes is a phone and a suitcase, according to some industry experts.

But the entry of overseas organizations, they said, might lift the level of professionalism in the sector in China.

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Global human resources company Adecco SA completed a buyout of FESCO Shenzhen at the end of April. Apart from the successful joint venture FESCO Adecco in Shanghai, the Switzerland-based human resources giant is expanding into the Chinese market by using Shenzhen's plentiful resources.

"First, we are very attracted by Qianhai, the special zone in Shenzhen that's intended as a test bed for China's yuan liberalization and financial reforms. Second, Shenzhen is home to a large number of high-technology companies, such as Huawei Technologies Co Ltd and China's largest Internet company, Tencent Holdings Ltd. These also provide plenty of opportunities to us," said Mindy Zheng, chief financial officer of Adecco China.

"Actually, there aren't many Chinese human resources companies out there for us to choose among. Some aren't up to our standards, while others actually don't want to expand. But we think the cooperation with FESCO Shenzhen will help to increase the level of services," she said.

Meanwhile, London-based Antal International Ltd, which specializes in middle management-level recruitment, has signed an agreement with Beijing-based recruitment process outsourcing specialist Career International Ltd to finalize their strategic partnership.

Antal, which entered the Beijing market in 1998, sought the partnership to expand its business in China, especially in the second-and third-tier cities, according to Tony Goodwin, founder and chief executive officer of Antal International.

Goodwin noted that a second-tier Chinese city such as Hangzhou, with 10 million people, has only some 20 recruitment companies. London, with 8 million people, has 1,200 recruitment firms. "Immediately, I can see the opportunity for Antal in Hangzhou," he said.

After spending four years looking for a strategic partner, Goodwin said he was pleased to meet Wallace Gao, the founder of Career International, who shares his philosophies.

The partnership gives CI access to the resources of Antal, with 137 offices in 32 countries.

"It's a great opportunity for them to be part of an international network and for us to get great coverage in China. What would take us 10 years to do on our own, we think we can do in three to four years. Antal China can become bigger than the rest of Antal worldwide with this partnership," he said.