Challenges, opportunities
A lack of clear goals and proper projects are common problems for many former forces personnel. Chen Lei often asks veterans who want to launch a business what they want to do and what they are capable of doing.
"The requirements for starting a business in the internet era may be low, but we must always consider the fierce competition," she said, adding that the internet offers many opportunities for employment and startups.
According to her platform's data, more than 14 percent of internet-related companies wanted to hire veterans last year, while former forces personnel accounted for about 20 percent of applicants for the jobs.
Chen Bin, manager of the Veterans' Pioneer Park in Putuo district, Zhoushan city, Zhejiang province, said many veterans are willing to start their own businesses and there are many opportunities to do so, but every project must be planned well.
The park, which opened in December 2017 and is open to veterans nationwide, offers support in terms of startup loans and premises. It has 55 startup teams, with half of them focused on internet businesses.
Chen Bin stressed that veterans need to identify effective business partners and acquire different skills in the initial stages.
Pioneer parks for veterans have sprung up across China recently.
For example, since 2016, parks have opened in Hebei province, the Inner Mongolia autonomous region and Fujian province.
Entrepreneurs have also helped veterans to found businesses. Chen Kunyuan's company has provided special funds and founded an incubator park for veterans. So far, 30 former forces personnel have benefited.
Government support
Veterans are an important talent pool, and all government and military authorities promote and ensure their welfare when they leave the armed forces. Authorities also offer support and services for veterans looking for work or hoping to start their own businesses.
In his speech at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2017, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, stressed the task of making "soldier" a respected profession in society.
In July, 12 government and military authorities published a document to help veterans find civilian jobs or start their own businesses.
The document－drafted by the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, which was established in April－specified the duties and responsibilities of each government and military department involved in finding employment for former forces personnel.
In addition, it highlighted guidance and services for those looking to start their own business, including organizing training, providing premises and offering financial and tax incentives.
A draft law on veterans' welfare has been sent to central and provincial governments and the military for consultation. It will be opened to public comment soon, the ministry said.
One of the ministry's main tasks this year is to strengthen education and training for veterans and offer them more support to make them more competitive in the job market.
Like many entrepreneurs, Chen Kunyuan built his business from scratch, and the Shanghai Equity Exchange-listed company had turnover of 500 million yuan in 2017.
Every week, the company arranges for more than 30 veterans to attend startup training, teaches them how to use the internet and answers their queries.
The 34-year-old's vision is clear: he wants to use the internet to train 100 veterans to become startup pioneers and help 300,000 former forces personnel or their families to find jobs or start businesses within the next 10 years.
