Writing from Asia by Andrew Symon

A collection of excellent articles written from, and about, Southeast Asia by Andrew Symon, the late editor of Vietnam Focus, who died at a tragically young age in 2009.

 

East and Southeast Asia

The varied social, economic and political characteristics within East and Southeast Asia epitomise the diverse nature of this sub-region. It includes China, the world's fourth largest economy, and four of the world's least developed countries: Cambodia, Lao, Myanmar and Timor-Leste. The region, which spans the Palaearctic, Oriental and Australasian bio-geographical areas, has significant natural resources, much of which have not been completely explored.

The region is becoming a leading player in international production networks and supply chains, and has experienced a rapid growth in trade within the last decade. East and Southeast Asia is now competing with the West for natural resources, and Asian countries are increasingly favoured as trading partners with resource-rich nations because they do not seek to tie trade to sensitive political issues. Menas Associates has developed its practice in East and Southeast Asia to reflect client needs in several sectors, including oil and gas. From our Asia hub in Hanoi, and through an extensive network of associates in the region, we offer timely and commercially relevant advice on a wide range of issues and countries.

We work together with clients to tailor our services to fit their needs and interests, and thus enable them to maximise investment opportunities and minimise costs and risks. In the past, undertakings have included political risk analyses, market assessments, sector-specific client reports and due diligence investigations. On top of that, we have close ties to in-country experts and intergovernmental institutions, and can assist our clients first-hand with business practises and international and regional economic transactions.

Our advisery services incorporate years of experience and practical know-how when working with multinational organisations interested in learning about the prospective political, social, security and economic issues that might affect their working practices in East and Southeast Asia.