Business Opportunities in SE Asia: A case study for supply chain & manufacturing in Thailand

Thailand is a market full of opportunity, particularly for UK businesses. In the year to June 2019, the total value of UK exports to Thailand was a staggering £2 billion (ONS, 2019).

What you'll learn at the webinar

This webinar will provide you with a high-level overview of what it's really like to do business in this thriving market. Running for just over an hour you'll hear from market experts who will cover everything from setting up operations to handling HR and managing logistics.

Lumentum, a company that successfully trades in Thailand, will also provide attendees with a case study presentation on their journey. As usual, there will also be a Q&A at the end of the session where you'll have the opportunity to ask questions to all of our speakers.

If you're looking to explore and expand into new markets beyond the EU, Thailand should definitely be a market you're considering.

Join us at this webinar to hear from people who know the market and have triumphed when it comes to exporting to Thailand.

Agenda

14:00 - 14.15: Intro and Opening Remarks: Sarah Leonard, DIT Asia Pacific Business Relations Specialist and Ben Morley, Thailand Country Director Department for International Trade (DIT)

14.15 - 14.30: Intro to “Doing business in Thailand” – Facts & Figures, Demographics and Industries, HR: Richard Jackson, Managing Director & CoFounder, RLC

14.30 - 14.45: Overview of SE Asia & Thailand for logistics, infrastructure advantages, trends and

emerging opportunities: Russell Pang, Managing Director, CEVA Logistics

14.45 - 15.00: Case Study Lumentum’s journey in Thailand. From country selection to government incentives and support, to expansion opportunities and future growth for one of the world’s leading manufacturing businesses: Chris Parsons, Senior Vice President, Lumentum International (Thailand)

15.00 - 15.15 - Q& A

Speakers

Sarah Leonard

DIT Asia Pacific Business Relations Specialist

Sarah Leonard is the Business Relations Specialist for Asia Pacific at DIT. Sarah has lived and worked in two countries in Asia Pacific​ and travelled extensively within the region. She has particular experience in education, banking, insurance and e-commerce. The Business Specialist role focuses on promoting the opportunities in Asia Pacific for UK businesses and she is keen to ensure that businesses are taking advantage of the many opportunities available.

Richard Jackson

Managing Director & CoFounder

Richard has over 20 years’ experience in client management roles, and after relocating to Thailand in 2009, is the Managing Director & CoFounder of RLC Recruitment, one of South East Asia’s leading Technical & Senior Executive recruitment specialists. In addition to a deep understanding of the Thailand & ASEAN labor market, Richard’s extensive network in manufacturing and technology industries runs throughout the AsiaPacific region and further.

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Russell Pang

Managing Director, Thailand and Emerging Markets CEVA

Logistics

Originally from Dartford, Kent UK, Russell has spent the past 25 years in Asia (7yrs China & HK & 18 years in TH) and is currently the Managing Director for CEVA Logistics, responsible for 5 countries (Thailand & Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar) Russell has over 30 years of industry experience in Contract Logistics Operations, Business Development and Country Management, gained in destinations such as Europe, Hong Kong, China and SE Asia.

Before joining CEVA, Russell worked for Maersk & Christian Salvesen in the UK, prior to accepting an overseas posting to Hong Kong in 1996. After 7 successful years in warehouse & transport management, in 2003, he moved to Thailand with CEVA (TNT) as Operations Contract General Manager.

In 2009, Russell took over the Country Business Development Director role, and in 2012, after a short-acting MD role in the Philippines, he took on a regional Business Development role in supporting growth & strategy in the Emerging Markets. From Jan 2015 to Jan 2019, he became the Vice President for Business Development Mekong Cluster (Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Bangladesh & Thailand) before accepting the current MD role based in Thailand.

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Chris Parsons

Senior Vice President, Lumentum International (Thailand)

Chris Parsons is the Vice President for Lumentum Thailand – a manufacturing business which was set up from scratch just 5 years ago. The company makes cutting edge photonic laser technology to support various industries and is headquartered in Silicon Valley. Chris is originally from the West

Country and has extensive experience in China and US so ideally placed to compare and contracts with those markets and SE Asia.

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About Thailand

Thailand is located in South East Asia between Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Malaysia. It's an established export market for UK businesses and is currently its 37th largest trading partner, as well as its 48th largest export partner (ONS, 2019). There are already 5,200 British VAT registered businesses exporting to Thailand (HMRC, 2017), with openings for SMEs as well as large corporations.

Opportunities for UK businesses are available particularly in the technology, eCommerce, agribusiness and infrastructure sectors. Thailand’s geographical setting makes the country a hub for UK businesses looking to access opportunities in the Greater Mekong subregion. It’s a good strategic location for exporting to Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar (Burma) and southern China.