Doing Business in the ASEAN Countries

Doing Business in the ASEAN Countries is a practical and comprehensive guide to doing business in the newly emerging economies of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), consisting of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, The Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Collectively these countries comprise a huge market of over half a billion people, a combined domestic product in excess of US$1.49 trillion, and total trade of over $1.54 trillion. The region’s economy is the fastest growing in the world. It has distinctive business cultures and systems. Each country has a unique business environment and its own level of development.

Familiarity with the business, political, social, and cultural environment of the country is essential to succeed in doing business there. This book provides such insights into understanding the ASEAN region. It gives information on each country’s history, geography, and demography; the political and economic environment; the legal framework, including procedures for starting a business; cultural intricacies, including religious issues, language, beliefs, and customs; business etiquette and attitudes; management and working styles; and negotiation strategies. It provides guidelines on establishing relationships, selecting business partners, and dealing with corruption and other ethical pitfalls. For further exploration into an issue, links to web resources are also given. Information and insights on each ASEAN country will enable the reader to evaluate better the risk factors in order to make meaningful decisions.