Know-How Exchange : Strategy

Fiat,

I note that some time has passed since your post was submitted but you have not received any response. Without wishing to be critical or censorious, but in a spirit of friendship, I hope you won't be offended if I respectfully point out that your post is a bit ambiguous. For example, are you looking for a job with a south east Asian company or are you wishing to establish your own company in south east Asia. Your posting can be read (interpreted?) either way.

For example i: I am prospecting for A JOB WITHIN THE south east Asian market with a premium design consultancy company focused on creating unique solutions for the luxury transport sector.

For example 2: I am prospecting for CLIENTS IN THE south east Asian market with MY premium design consultancy company focused on creating unique solutions for the luxury transport sector.

Last point: I think you need to define the term 'luxury transport sector' in much more detail. South-east Asian countries are in development mode, so salaries and wages for most people are not high relative to developed western countries.

Unless you can be more specific about your objectives and your backgound, I cannot be of much help. I have experience working at Managing Director/General Manager levels for a number of years in Malaysia in the heavy haulage transport industry and hospitality industry among others.

sincerely,

chiron34

Fiatuno,

I don't know that I can be of much help. Your target market of wealthy clients and companies that may wish to use the services you offer are outside my general knowledge. This is an area you will need to research very carefully yourself, because unless you can establish a large enough market, then clearly there's not much point in proceeding.

In my experience, most south east asian countries require two things from foreign investors:

1. there must be a technology, skills or information transfer to local personnel (which can be joint-investors or more usually, employees).

2. You need to recruit a partner in a joint-venture arrangement with a local company. The share-split between the local company and the foreign company is subject to direct face-to-face negotiations and agreement

This is partly to keep some profits in the country and partly to ensure that the project complies with local laws and customs, This is not an unreasonable imposition these days.

In return for the foreign investment, most governments give some form or benefits.

To start the ball rolling you need to first contact each governments' industrial development department. They will be able to help you identify if your target market is realistic.

Once your market is known, the departments will usually be able to refer you to a few possible joint-venture partners that you can talk to, to see if there is any compatibility.

In the end, to do what you want, a lot depends on how you relate to the local people. It will pay you to research the customs etc of the countries you wish to enter. As an example, Malaysia has Malays, Chinese, Indians, and a number of other smaller groups. They are all different in religion, traditions, customs and the like.

Good luck,

chiron34

Sunil,

Sorry for the delay in this reply. I had neglected to tick the box so that I would receive a response to my post. To be frank, I think India may be a bit ambitions as a start centre because you may find that your resources will need to be split among a number of business centres. Actually, I would not make that decision now. I think it would be preferable to first do some liaising wok with the various government department that I referred to earlier.

From the results of those contacts, you will get a better idea of where you best future lies. Remember here that although you may be able to identify a reasonable market in a few countries, the cream on the coffee for future action will be the incentives and tax breaks that you can negotiate with each government department.

From my Know-how Exchange bio (click on chiron34 above) you will see that I am a consultant who offers a range of services. As we are the only two in this conversation, there's not much point in continuing a public dialogue open to thousands. Could I suggest that you send me some detailed information on your company and your project to me at chiron@chiron.itsonline.com.au. This would permit me to take a more measured look at where you want to go with your project. In that way, I can be more helpful.

By the way, as a professional consultant of many years' experience, I am quite used to working with access to company secrets and keeping them confidential.

sincerely.

chiron34