China is the big news in world trade, but there is another emerging story behind the headlines. Too much of a good thing can be bad, and thus manufacturers and traders are increasingly reluctant to put all their eggs in one basket. They're looking for Asian alternatives to China to source, make, and deliver critical supply chain components.

In today's world of cheap goods and fast moving cargoes, China is grabbing the lion's share. The figures are staggering. China's trade surplus with the United States could top $120 billion in 2006, up over 22 percent from estimated 2005 figures of $97.4 billion, according to China's State Information Center. Not surprisingly, with so many goods now being produced in China, docks and tarmacs are overflowing with Chinese made goods.

Therein lies the potential problem.

“The imbalance is getting bigger every year,” states Reinhard Lange, COO of Kuehne + Nagel (http://www.kn-portal.com/).

Transportation operators are severely taxed by the overwhelming trade imbalance. Air carriers are scrambling to find creative at ways to fill their cargo holds for the outbound trips home, an effort that is increasingly futile as more Chinese and Middle Eastern carriers introduce services in the region.

Meanwhile, steamship lines must deal with repositioning empty containers, of which there is a huge demand in China. Yet, transporting empty containers back to China is not income producing.

“There is increasing pressure on rates,” Lange says.

While manufactures worldwide are taking advantage of China's cheap costs by outsourcing much of their production there, countries in Southeast Asia offer viable alternatives with many of the same cost-savings benefits. In fact, countries like Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam offer viable alternative sources and opportunities, particularly with their governments continuously embarking on stronger pro-business policies and increasingly entering into trade agreements with countries around the world.

China is not the end-all solution to low cost goods, many industry experts contend. In fact, wage rates are beginning to increase in China, slowly stealing away some of that country's manufacturing advantages. Plus, China is increasingly being challenged to place its currency, the yuan, on the floating exchange. If this occurs, Chinese prices will no doubt increase and become less competitive. Lastly, is the issue of political stability, reason enough for companies not to put all of their eggs in one basket.

With these issues and more in mind, here is a quick snap shot of viable alternatives manufacturers and shippers alike should consider when viewing Asia as a production and export source.

Malaysia

Think microchips, think Malaysia. Today, Malaysia is one of the world's largest producers of microchips as well as home to the manufacturing of known brands for Intel, Panasonic, Motorola, Carrier, BASF, Dell, Hewlett Packard and Nestle. In fact, this spring, Seagate Technology will expand its Penang plant production capacity by 20 percent.

The United States is one of the largest investors in Malaysia. In 2004, U.S. companies invested $263 million in new manufacturing, mostly in the electronics and electrical sectors.

A pro-business nation, Malaysia understands that to attract high-tech industries, products have to move efficiently and fast.

Major international cargo freighters such as Cargolux International, Lufthansa Cargo, Nippon Cargo Airline and Malaysia's home carrier Malaysia Airlines fly into Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). Air cargo services are also provided by Transmile Air serves domestic and regional destinations. Major courier companies such FedEx, TNT, UPS and DHL also operate nationwide.

To link developing markets in Cambodia and Vietnam, MASkargo, which handles cargo via Malaysia Airlines' global network, offers a product called i-Port Transhipment Service. By utilizing this service, companies delivering cargo need only to ship cargo by sea to Malaysian ports, which is transported by road to MASkargo's Advanced Cargo Centre (ACC) at KLIA, then by air to respective destinations. The scheme provides cheaper and faster cargo delivery to Europe, Australasia, Eastern Asia and North America, through MASkargo's home base at KLIA.

Malaysia is home to seven international and eight domestic seaports that handle 95 percent of the country's trade. In 2004, its largest seaport, Port Klang, handled 5.24 million TEUs and is expected to handle 8.4 million TEUs by 2010.

“Port Klang is being developed as the national load center port of the country with the ultimate view that it will eventually serve as an alternate hub and a cheaper option in the next millennium to those established hubs in the region,” says Port Klang Authority (PKA) General Manager Datin Paduka O.C. Phang.

Business is brisk. Malaysia is a top exporter of air conditioners, rubber gloves and palm oil along with high quality textiles and apparel, furniture, and wood products. In 2004, bilateral trade between the United States and Malaysia totaled $39.1 billion. U.S. exports to Malaysia were $10.9 billion, and U.S. imports from Malaysia were $28.2 billion. That year Malaysia was the United States' 10th largest trading partner and its 16th largest export market.

Helping to facilitate trade is Malaysia's well developed financial and banking sector. Merchant banks in Malaysia are evolving into full-service investment banks offering investment advice and specialized services, including international factoring, import-export factoring and asset and fund management. Islamic banking and finance is also available as is offshore banking. The Export-Import Bank of Malaysia Berhad (EXIM Bank) provides financing and credit for both exporters and importers of Malaysian goods and services, targeting the new and emerging markets.

Singapore

Singapore is the little engine that could. Recognizing 20 years ago a need to compete with the rest of Asia, Singapore imposed laws that required companies to increase salaries by 20 percent per year and upgrade their technology or get out. While Singapore's approach may appear heavy handed, this city-state is all about business.

“The infrastructure is superb here,” says Professor Dr. Hellmut Schutte, dean of the Asian Campus of Insead. “Companies should not underestimate the advantages of doing business in Singapore. It is so easy.”

Singapore bills itself as Southeast Asia's most advanced economy. To ensure that position, the country is investing billions of dollars to build up two growth enablers: innovation/enterprise, and research and development. In August, the government outlined its strategic proposal to double R&D spending to over $7 billion or 3 percent of Singapore's GDP in the next five years.

Singapore already boasts a modern telecommunications and IT system, efficient financial services, and political and social stability. Singapore has been the fastest country in the ASEAN/SA region to adopt e-business. In fact, Singapore is considered one of the most wired countries in the world.

Connectivity is a major element of Singapore's advantage. The Port of Singapore is one of the busiest container ports in the world. PSA Singapore Terminals is connected to 600 ports worldwide in 123 countries via 200 shipping lines. Singapore, itself, is home to more than 4,000 maritime companies. Singapore Changi International Airport handles 3,972 flight per week to 177 cities worldwide.

“Changi Airport is regarded as the world's leading airport,” says Ko Kheng Hwa, managing director of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).

Furthermore, Singapore is committed to raising the standard of logistics, an area in which much of Asia lags.

“The government recognizes the importance of developing a ready pool of skilled logistics professionals to manage increasingly complex logistics operations,” says Manohar Khiatani, EDB director, logistics and transport cluster.

Logistics accounts for more than 8 percent of Singapore's GDP.

Manufacturers such as IBM and Motorola have established supply chain management competence teams in Singapore to orchestrate and coordinate global efforts. Two years ago, Motorola consolidated its worldwide procurement operations into a single administrative entity based in Singapore.

Integral to logistics education is the Logistics Institute-Asia Pacific (TLI-AP), which operates in collaboration between the National University of Singapore and the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka may be known for Ceylon tea and Tamil Tigers, but when it comes to exports, it has built big business on the bra. Top on the list of customers is Victoria's Secret, which manufactures and imports nearly all of its lingerie from Sri Lanka. The company also operates a design center there as well.

A big advantage: “We have no quotas; the market is totally open,” says Saman Udagedara, Minister (Commercial) at Sri Lanka's embassy in Washington, D.C.

The textile and apparel sector is one of the most significant and dynamic contributors to Sri Lanka's overall economy. Some 800 companies produce a wide range of products including branded names. Most cater to international markets. The industry provides employment to approximately one-third of the labor force involved in manufacturing, a sector that encompasses about 24 percent of Sri Lanka's workers. (Services employ about 54 percent; agriculture, approximately 27 percent.) Exports make up about 28 percent of the nation's GDP, imports, about 37 percent.

Udagedara notes that 33 percent of the nation's total exports go to the United States. “Out of this, 80 to 85 percent is apparel,” he states.

Other major exports include gems and jewelry, rubber, spices, tea, and graphite.

“We are the world's biggest exporter of tea,” Udagedara states.

According to Sri Lanka's Board of Investment, lingerie represents an opportunity into higher quality markets. After all, manufacturing a bra passes through the hands of some 120 people, all of whom must be highly skilled. The jobs are good and needed. With a population of roughly 19.5 million and some 8.06 million in the labor force, poverty remains widespread in Sri Lanka, especially in rural areas. Unemployment runs around 9 percent. Most industry is clustered around Colombo and the western provinces. The country is plagued by internal civil war.

“We want to attract investment to remote areas,” Udagedara remarks.

To do so, the government has allotted incentives to encourage the setting up of 300 factories in the provinces. But existing garment manufacturers want cheap electricity and improved internal roads to ease traffic congestion so that they can ship products on time.

Shippers do benefit from the Port of Colombo, a world-class cargo handling and transshipment hub well positioned along the shipping route between Eastern Asia, Europe and North and South America.

“Last year, the port handled 20 million TEUs,” comments Udagedara. “Lloyd's List ranks it among the top 25 container ports of the world.”

An important fact, the Port of Colombo was the first port in East Asia and the second in the world to implement both the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Container Security Initiative (CSI) and the Megaport Initiative of the National Nuclear Security Administration of the U.S. Department of Energy. Its participation in these two major security initiatives provides for speedy clearance of goods arriving U.S. ports, thereby enhancing U.S. bound cargo volumes from the region via the Port of Colombo.

Thailand

U.S. Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce describes Thailand as “a powerful export engine, with highly demanding developed countries as its chief markets.”

“Thailand makes, and the world buys,” he says.

Today, Thailand is on the upswing thanks to championing ASEAN regionalism and aggressively pursuing free trade agreements, one that is currently under negotiation with the United States. The Thai Development Research Institute expects a fully implemented U.S.-Thailand FTA to boost Thai GDP by 1.3 percent annually over the first 10 years.

Thailand is already the United State's nineteenth largest trading partner. Thailand exports more agricultural products to the U.S. than any other nation. Rice is its key export worldwide. Other important exports are natural rubber, tapioca, teak wood and garments.

Value-added manufacturing, such as in garments and specialty foods, is also on the rise thanks to foreign direct investment. Fairfield, California-based Jelly Belly Candy Co., for one, announced in January plans to build a factory in Thailand. Others include IT and high-tech products produced by companies such as Seagate, Western Digital, Nokia, Electrolux, Siemens, Thomason, Fujitsu, and Hitachi.

Thailand is also the largest automotive manufacturer in Southeast Asia and ranks fifteenth worldwide with 2004 production of 900,000+ vehicles. The Thai government aims to see Thailand become one of the world's top 10 automotive manufactures by producing 1.8 million vehicles by 2010. Auto manufacturing giants with operations there are Toyota, General Motors, Honda, and Ford. Ford executives dub the Thailand the “Detroit of Asia.”

Attracting manufacturers is Thailand's skilled labor force of over 34 million, attractive incentives, and massive investments in the nation's infrastructure. “The money for that investment comes mostly from export earnings,” Ambassador Boyce reports.

Thailand offers eight international deep-sea ports and four private ports that handle container cargo. Klong Toey is the largest, capable of handling 14 millions tons per year. Thailand's second port, Laem Chabang, offers fast and efficient service. It can accommodate vessels up to 100,000 dwt and 73 million tons per year.

“Laem Chabang Port is designated for international transport and to serve as a hub for the Mekong region,” says Chalermchai Meekun-tam, deputy general of the Port Authority of Thailand.

Sriracha Harbour Deep Seaport is Thailand's largest private port. It offers access to many of the new industrial estates in Thailand.

In addition, Thailand has 4,000 kilometers of inland waterways.

The big news for air cargo is Bangkok's new Suvarnabhumi Airport, scheduled to open in 2006. It will replace the ageing two-runway Don Muang, which is among the world's 20 leading freight airports. Long in the planning, the airport will compete directly with Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Built to accommodate 76 flights an hour on four runways and over 3 million tons of cargo a year, the airport will also offer a duty free zone and a 90,000 square meter warehouse. The airport will provide good road links to commerce centers and the port of Laem Cha Bang.

Vietnam

Vietnam is fast becoming a powerhouse. For first quarter 2005, its economy expanded 7.2 percent and exports grew 16.2 percent, reaching $6.72 billion. The Vietnamese attribute this to their “Doi Moi” policy, which means renovation process. Gerard Roland, economics professor-University of California Berkeley, attributes impressive growth to small and medium entrepreneurship.

“That boom isn't based on the success of any particular industry, such as high technology or the garment trade,” he says. “Instead, it includes coffee plantations, agricultural productivity, fish farmers, small business owners, small artisans, tourism and more.”

Lending a hand is the number of memberships and trade agreements in which that nation has entered. In 2000, Vietnam signed a free trade agreement with the United States, which allows all Vietnamese enterprises (and by 2007, U.S. persons and firms) the right to import into and export from Vietnam without restriction. In return, Vietnam gives Most Favored Nation and national treatment to U.S. citizens and firms relating to customs duties, methods of payment for import and export, laws, rules and formalities, taxes and fees.

“Among Vietnam's stated goals are to fully integrate into the global economy by 2010, to raise $840 billion in capital over the next five years, and to maintain a high level of growth,” says Dorothy Dwoskin, assistant U.S. Trade Representative for WTO and Multilateral Affairs.

Currently, Vietnam's major exports are rice, seafood, forest products, garments, and footwear. Imports to Vietnam have been spotty, which experts relate to a lack of a manufacturing in Vietnam. With 80+ million people and its continuous high economic growth, however, Vietnam is attracting foreign investment. This reached $4.2 billion in 2004, up 35 percent over 2003.

While Vietnam's hinterland is not well developed, 34 seaports dot Vietnam's coastline. Most are in need of extensive development, particularly to accommodate Vietnam's multi-million maritime industry, which is expected to grow at 30 percent per year. In 2005, Vietnam handled 139 million tons of cargo, up 68 percent since 2000, reports Navigation Department of Vietnam statistics.

To help facilitate the development of Vietnam's maritime industry, the Vietnam Maritime Code has been revised to encourage national and foreign investment in Vietnam's shipping industry, port facilities, maintenance and management. Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) plans to spend over $7 billion to build and upgrade a network of 18 domestic and six international airports by 2015. CAAV forecasts that Vietnam's aviation market will grow 12 to 14 percent a year between now and 2010, and between 9 to12 percent in the following two decades. wt

Sidebar 1:Speed, Efficiency, Technology and Geography Make PSA Singapore Terminals Shine

Every year, the Port of Singapore and the Port of Hong Kong compete neck and neck for the No. 1 position as the world's busiest seaport. Pleasing Singapore's port and maritime community, Bloomberg reported on July 15, 2005 that Hutchison Whampoa Ltd., Cosco Pacific Ltd., and other operators of Hong Kong's port handled fewer containers than Singapore in the first half of this year. For that time period, the Hong Kong Port Development Council reported a volume of 10.75 million twenty-foot equivalent units of containers or TEUs; Singapore port officials were recording 11.37 million containers.

A closer look shows how both are quite different. Hong Kong handles goods departing its colossal Pearl River Delta market, home to several other ports that are growing in significance. PSA Singapore Terminals scoots containers around as a mega transshipment hub.

For the first eight months of 2005, PSA Singapore Terminals, which is owned by PSA International, moved 14.8 million TEUs. In 2004, PSA handled 20.6 million TEUs in Singapore.

PSA International is one of the leading port operators in the world. With its flagship operations in Singapore and Belgium, PSA operates an extensive global network of 18 port projects in 11 countries across China, Europe, India, Korea, South East Asia and Japan.

In Singapore, PSA operates four container terminals at Tanjong Pagar, Keppel, Brani, and Pasir Panjang with a total of 40 berths Pasir Panjang Terminal is PSA's most advanced terminal with berths up to 16 meters deep and quay cranes capable of reaching across 22 rows of containers to accommodate the world's largest container vessels.

PSA Singapore Terminals is the world's largest transshipment hub, handling about one-fifth of the world's transshipment volume. Nothing could be more demonstrative of this point than the fact in July, the MSC Pamela, which at 9,200 TEUs is the world's largest containership, sailed into PSA's Pasir Panjang Terminal (PPT). The ship is the largest vessel to call at PSA Singapore Terminals. When lined up from end to end, its load of 9,200 TEUs span 56 kilometers, more than the length of the Singapore island from the eastern tip of Changi to Jurong in the west. Overall, ships stay at dock one to two days.

The 200 shipping lines that include Singapore on their rotations connect PSA Singapore Terminals to 600 ports worldwide in 123 countries. There are two daily sailings from the port to the United States; four to Europe; five to Japan; nine to China, Hong Kong and Taiwan; and 70 to South and Southeast Asia.

Singapore itself is home to more than 4,000 maritime companies. Advantages offered by the port have led major shipping lines such as Japan's NYK Group to expand their businesses here. According to NYK, over 1,800 of its vessels called at Singapore for various purposes last year.

Helping to smooth out the business of the port is PORTNET®, an integrated business-to-business computer system that connects the port operator with shippers, shipping lines, haulers, freight forwarders and local government agencies in Singapore to enable end-to-end e-commerce, from the point of booking for port services and facilities, to the point of billing. PSA Singapore Terminals is constantly applying technology to make operations more efficient and smooth for customers. It has implemented Motorola's TETRA (Terrestrial Trunked Radio) digital radio system, at its four container terminals and Pasir Panjang Wharves. With the TETRA-based digital radio communications system, PSA Singapore Terminals will be able to harness state-of-the-art voice and data communications solutions to efficiently manage the increasing volume of container traffic.

Moving cargo quickly and efficiently is also key to making the transshipment port work well. One unique aspect at PPT is its bridge crane system that utilizes the latest in technology: remote control-operated cranes. One operator can control as many as six cranes, making it possible to stack containers up to nine high in the yard. Not only does this save precious space at the land-constrained seaport, it also saves on manpower.

Sidebar 2:Supply Chain Options Ripe for Integrated Carriers

Few places in the world are so dependant on air cargo and in need of well managed land transportation and logistics than Southeast Asia.

“Port infrastructure is not sophisticated in these markets and the choices of routing is little to be desired,” states Ivan Li, Marketing Manager, UPS Supply Chain Solutions Asia-Pacific Region. “Therefore, some of the countries, e.g. Malaysia, may need to consolidate their shipments with Singapore, which may cause shipment delay.”

Executives at UPS Supply Chain Solutions see Southeast Asia as ripe for opportunity and are well ingrained there, including Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.

“The need for regional distribution, replenishment and logistics services continues to grow, particularly in the south Asia region,” Mr. Li says. “We're expanding to provide more regional distribution services.”

As part of the effort, UPS Supply Chain Solutions is building a distribution and logistics hub in Singapore within the Airport Logistics Park Singapore, or ALPS.

ALPS, Singapore's first logistics Free Trade Zone (FTZ), is located adjacent to the Singapore's Changi International Airport.

The 425,000-square-foot facility, scheduled to open in mid-2006, will serve as one of the company's key operations centers for South Asia. By utilizing the hub, customers can save time and money on documentation, customs clearance and transportation.

“For example, the Goods and Services Tax is suspended within the FTZ until the cargo is redistributed,” comments Mr. Li. “And since ALPS has a dedicated customs checkpoint, the process of customs clearance averages eight minutes or less. It provides the flexibility that we need for greater speed and efficiency in transportation and documentation, and allows UPS to expand freight capabilities and provide the distribution services this region needs.”

A major opportunity for UPS in the region: With U.S. embargoed China textile and clothing starting from 2005, overseas buyers are shifting their sourcing locations from China to Southeast Asia, thereby increasing export volumes and the need for logistics and transportation.

Thailand's growing automotive market also requires more sophisticated logistics venues.

“For automotive vehicle and parts manufacturers, a smooth running supply chain is essential,” he states. “We see it is one of the biggest opportunities for UPS Supply Chain Solutions.”

Challenges and opportunities

FedEx is well ingrained in the South Pacific. Hailing from its headquarters in Singapore, FedEx covers Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indochina, Indonesia and the Philippines, in addition to Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, and Hong Kong.

“Major FedEx investments in South Pacific include our intra-Asia network known as AsiaOne; our South Asia hub, the Asia Pacific Data Center and the FedEx Asia Financial Services Center in Singapore,” states David L. Cunningham, Jr., President, FedEx Express, Asia Pacific.

FedEx continues to be optimistic about the prospects for business growth in the region. “Trade is deepening, particularly in high value-added, high technology products as well as the biotechnology and aerospace sectors,” Cunningham says.

Market specific, he sees Vietnam as an economic force in Southeast Asia, and its push for membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) a major plus.

Singapore promises increased demand as more small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) there expand internationally and look for logistics partners that can provide integrated solutions such as reliable express air transportation to enable “just-in-time” logistics, flexible distribution centers and information technology.

Malaysia's market-oriented economy coupled with supportive government policies and a large business community that is ready to do business with international corporations has made Malaysia a highly competitive manufacturing and export base.

FedEx sees strong prospects in Thailand, especially the air international express sector given the Thai government's policy to promote electronics, jewelry, high-end fashion and high-tech industries.

“Other trends driving the growth include global sourcing and selling, and the move back to logistics outsourcing so that companies can focus on their core competencies, which bodes well for express carriers like FedEx,” Cunningham remarks. “We have also extended our leadership position in facilitating global trade. In July, we announced our plan to build a new Asia Pacific hub in Guangzhou, China at the new Baiyun airport. In September, we announced the launch of a new daily eastbound around the world flight offering the first overnight express link between India and China. These developments are significant given the ever-increasing impact of these two economic powerhouses to the world economy.”

As for challenges, here's Cunningham's rundown:

Thailand: Despite Thailand's signed cargo open skies agreement in 2003 and impending FTA with the United States, Thailand needs an efficient, smooth-running international express industry. Therefore, strengthening customs modernization must be a priority. Thai Customs has already taken some important steps towards speeding the flow of trade but continuing improvements have to be made to stay ahead of competition.

Singapore: Businesses do very well here, but local businesses must continue to focus on international markets to meet the demand for innovative and quality products.

Malaysia: The Malaysian government has laid a strong foundation for the economy to move forward into the new global environment. It has moved into creating a knowledge-based community, which is evident through the many educational institutions currently based there. FedEx advocates continued training and equipping of its staff to provide the best service.

Vietnam: To sustain the economy growth, Vietnam needs to continue to open up its economy. Recent developments such as the China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement show that there is indeed a new spirit of collaboration between Vietnam and the region. Likewise, WTO membership will open up new opportunities. But, no doubt, the nation will face challenges in adapting to a new WTO world -- areas like reducing tariffs, further opening up the services sector and the protection of intellectual property. These challenges need to be taken up and addressed proactively and early, rather than reactively and late.

Sidebar 3: Guide to trade services Logistics Providers:

Logistics providers can pave the way to smoother supply chain operations in an otherwise difficult market. 3PLs with operations in the region include Maersk Logistics, APL Logistics, as well as integrated carriers UPS, FedEx and steamship lines like MOL, Maersk, and Hapag-Lloyd. MOL was the first carrier to offer service to Vietnam. Bangkok and Singapore operate as major air carrier hubs in the region as do the Port of Singapore and Port of Colombo on the sea side

Financial Resources:

Some nations have more sophisticated banking systems than others in the region. Singapore operates as a well-established international financial center. It offers about 700 local and foreign banking and financial institutions that provide services relating to trade financing, foreign exchange, derivatives products, capital markets activities, loan syndication, underwriting, mergers and acquisitions, asset management, securities trading, financial advisory services and specialized insurance services. Among them are American Express, Bank of America, Chase Manhattan Bank, Citibank, Development Bank of Singapore Ltd., Merrill Lynch International Bank Ltd, The Bank of New York, The Northern Trust Co., and HSBC Republic Bank (Suisse) SA.

Malaysia offers a host of banking options, including Islamic banking and finance.

Prime U.S.-based contacts:

Vietnam Trade Office

1730 M Street, NW, Suite 501

Washington, DC 20036

Tel: 202-463-9425

Vinatrade@vietnam-ustrade.org

www.vietnam-ustrade.org

Malaysia Embassy

3516 International Court, NW,

Washington DC 20008

Telephone: (202) 572-9700

Fax: (202) 483-7661

Singapore Embassy

3501 International Court, NW,

Washington DC 20008

Telephone: (202) 537-3100

Fax: (202) 537-0876

Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB)

55 East 59th Street, Suite 21B

New York, New York 10022-1112

United States of America

Tel: (212) 421-2200

Fax: (212) 421-2206

Email:edbny@edb.gov.sg

Sri Lanka Embassy

2148 Wyoming Avenue, NW

Washington DC 20008

Tel: (202) 483-4025

Sri Lanka Consulate at New York

630 3rd Avenue (20th Floor)

New York

NY 10017

T.P: (212)-986-7040

Vietnam Embassy

1233 20th St NW, Suite 400

Washington, DC 20036

Tel: (202) 861-0737

Fax: (202) 861-0917

info@vietnamembassy.us

consular@vietnamembassy.us

Prime In-Country Contacts:

American Chamber of Commerce, Sri Lanka

1st Floor, Office Building

South Wing, Colombo Hilton

Lotus Road

Colombo 1, Sri Lanka

Tel: +94.11.2336073

Fax: +94.11.2336072

E-Mail: info@amcham.lk

Gordon Glick

Executive Director

gordonglick@amcham.lk

The American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand

7th Floor, Diethelm Tower A,

93/1 Wireless Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan,

Bangkok 10330

Tel: +66 (0) 2254-1041

Fax: 66 (0) 2251-1605

E-mail: service@ amchamthailand.com

Thailand Board of Investment

555 Vibhavadi-Rangsit Rd.,

Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand

Tel. (66)2537-8111-55, 2537-8555,

Fax: (66)2537-8177,

http://www.boi.go.th

E-Mail: head@boi.go.th

American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce

11.03, Level 11, Amoda, 22 Jalan Imbi, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Tel: 603 2148-2407

Fax: 603 2142-8540

Email: info@amcham.com.my

Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation

7th Floor,

Wisma Sime Darby,

Jalan Raja Laut,

50350 Kuala Lumpur,

Malaysia.

Tel: 603 - 2616 3333

Fax: 603 - 2694 7362 / 3

American Chamber of Commerce Singapore

1 Scotts Road,

#23-03/04 Shaw Centre

Singapore 228208.

Tel: (65) 6235-0077

Fax: (65) 6732-5917

Executive Director

Nicholas de Boursac

Extension: 17

nick@amcham.org.sg

American Embassy Hanoi.

7 Lang Ha Street,

Hanoi, Vietnam

Phone: (84-4) 7721500

Fax: (84-4) 7721510

Links

• http://www.kn-portal.com
• Vietnam Trade Office
• Thailand Board of Investment