On August 25, 2026, FOTIMA GROUP formally signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Sichuan Zhongtai Institute of Economics and Management in Chengdu, China, to jointly build a new two‑way‑empowerment platform for Belt and Road‑oriented business services. Marking an in‑depth integration of both parties in the field of international business services, the partnership will foster a complete ecosystem covering professional talent cultivation, industrial resource matchmaking and business‑service innovation.
As a key strategic partner of Ningbo Branch of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), and a multinational enterprise maintaining official ties with the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan, FOTIMA GROUP leverages its unique bridge‑building advantages and puts forward the innovative concept of "two‑way empowerment for business‑service cooperation". Both sides will carry out deep‑rooted collaboration around three core pillars: business talent training, enterprise‑service upgrading and cross‑border resource docking, delivering systematic support for Chinese enterprises expanding overseas and Central‑Asian enterprises entering the Chinese market.
Present at the signing ceremony were Ms. Lu Yizhen, Chief Executive Officer of FOTIMA GROUP, Dr. Yang Minggao, Executive Dean of Sichuan Zhongtai Institute of Economics and Management, and Ms. Li Xia, Assistant to the Dean. The solemn, professional signing session bore witness to this milestone partnership and demonstrated firm confidence in long‑term synergistic growth.
FOTIMA GROUP will draw on its on‑the‑ground experience and resource networks across Belt and Road economies to bring real‑world international business scenarios into the joint initiative. Building on its dual strategic partnerships in China and Central‑Asian nations, the Group and its new partner will co‑develop practical cross‑border business‑service curricula. Proven expertise gained from international trade, investment‑merger‑acquisition projects and overseas market expansion will be converted into replicable, shareable knowledge frameworks, delivering professional guidance for Chinese enterprises venturing into Central Asia and Central‑Asian investors exploring the China market.
Sichuan Zhongtai Institute of Economics and Management will contribute its strengths in economic‑management theoretical research and teaching‑system design, providing solid academic backing and quality assurance for all joint programmes. Grounded in FOTIMA GROUP’s real‑world business operations, the Institute will develop forward‑looking theoretical frameworks for cross‑border business services, helping enterprises interpret commercial rules, seize market opportunities, mitigate operational risks and shift from reactive crisis‑handling to proactive strategic planning amid complex global environments.
The defining innovation of this partnership lies in its two‑way empowerment framework. On the one hand, FOTIMA GROUP’s hands‑on business expertise fuels talent development, cultivating versatile professionals equipped with both theoretical knowledge and practical operational capabilities. On the other hand, the Institute’s academic research empowers corporate practice, enabling enterprises to improve decision‑making quality, streamline operations and strengthen international competitiveness. This interactive two‑way model bridges the long‑standing gap between business‑administration education and real‑world corporate practice.
Both parties will co‑establish the Belt and Road Business Service Center, a comprehensive hub integrating consulting services, talent training and resource‑matching functions. Supported by FOTIMA GROUP’s local networks and government‑level partnerships throughout Central Asia, the platform will deliver end‑to‑end cross‑border business solutions, including market‑access consultancy, policy interpretation, local‑partner matchmaking and legal‑compliance guidance.
Joint research into cutting‑edge business topics will also be carried out, with in‑depth exploration of digital trade, supply‑chain governance and international compliance. Research outputs will deliver theoretical insights and decision‑making references for Belt and Road‑related commercial activities, helping businesses capture digital‑economy opportunities and navigate challenges brought by global supply‑chain restructuring.
At the postgraduate and doctoral talent‑development level, the two organisations will pool resources to deliver practice‑oriented high‑level professionals for Belt and Road initiatives, forming a talent reservoir for Chinese enterprises going global.
From a regional‑economic perspective, this strategic partnership will build a more robust business‑service ecosystem across Belt and Road countries. By exporting proven Chinese business‑service frameworks while adapting to local market norms and commercial cultures in Central Asia, both partners will develop region‑tailored business‑development models, delivering sustainable momentum for economic transformation and industrial upgrading in host nations.
Future joint initiatives include Belt and Road Business Innovation Forums, cross‑border enterprise‑service alliances and digital business‑service platforms. These extended projects will deepen cooperation foundations, broaden service coverage and raise the joint influence of both organisations.
FOTIMA GROUP will take this cooperation as a new starting‑point to further upgrade its Belt and Road business‑service system. It will combine its long‑term local‑operation experience in Kazakhstan and other Central‑Asian states with China‑originated commercial innovation, delivering new ideas and practical models for the global business‑service sector.
As a strategic gateway linking China and Central‑Asian markets, the Group will continue to maximise its unique platform‑building strengths and generate tangible value for cross‑regional commercial collaboration and economic growth. Far beyond delivering improved corporate services, this landmark cooperation charts fresh pathways for the healthy development of the Belt and Road commercial ecosystem.
Through deep integration of theory and practice, precise matching of resources and market demands, and continuous iteration of services and innovation, FOTIMA GROUP and Sichuan Zhongtai Institute of Economics and Management will jointly elevate cross‑regional business services to new heights. This strategic partnership represents a powerful industry‑academia alliance, a profound convergence of on‑the‑ground operational experience and theoretical innovation, and a landmark exploration for high‑quality Belt and Road business‑service development. It will inject fresh vitality into regional economic growth, pioneer new talent‑training pathways for cross‑border commerce and unlock expanded channels for China‑Central‑Asia business collaboration.
