Country Competency

The balance of power is shifting to Asia as China and India evolve.

One has been hailed the world's factory, building multibillion-dollar electronics and heavy industrial plants, while the other, the world's call-centre and rising power in the IT industry.

With potential market sizes of well over a billion each, will the excitement and buzz of setting up in China or India sizzle? Or are these markets overwhelmed with choices that may reduce a new start-up to a fizzle?

And if you have your eye set on Indo-China, what are your risks, and returns in setting foot in relatively untapped countries like Vietnam and Cambodia?

After surviving the Asian financial crisis, Malaysia and Indonesia are back on the world map as some of the world's fastest developing countries. Business opportunities may be right at your door-step, but do you have the key to unlocking these opportunities?

Before you step into the big unknown, a competency check is a must both within the corporation and the country of choice.

Research into the new business environment would mean having a good grasp of who your competitors are, what the market structure is, how the economy is being governed, what the economic trends are and how technologically advanced the choice country is.

Capital

The key to any successful business expansion is the ability to acquire funds. Some of the choices in raising capital include finding a new business partner, raising existing shareholders' stake in the company, and approaching a bank for direct financing. Others opt for obtaining capital through soft funding or even venture capitalists.

Surviving beyond the first and second year calls for apt cash management and risk aversion by tapping on the expertise of a reliable banking partner in the country of choice. Can you leverage on structured financing to protect your bottom-line in the early years? And what's your choice of transaction so that it will be in your best interest?

But capital is more than just cash alone.

In today's terms, it also includes manpower resources and expertise. So how should you distribute your human capital to yield the best results?

With over 760 million people in the workforce, is China the answer to your labour needs or is India's English-speaking staff more desirable? Or have you been taken in by the resilience in Vietnam's young workers?

Capitalise on this opportunity to help your business grow.