As the world changes, so do the dynamics of international business. For years, China has been a go-to supplier for many companies looking for cheap labour and goods. However, as the cost of labour and goods has risen, companies have begun to look elsewhere for new suppliers. South-East Asia has become a popular destination for businesses looking to reduce their costs. Likewise, the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are also keen to become the “supply chain of the world”.

South-East Asia is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, and it is no surprise that the industries in the region have been undergoing some major changes. Over the past decade, the region has seen a massive influx of foreign investment, leading to a major overhaul of the traditional industries. This has resulted in a much more competitive landscape, with new players entering the market and leading to a shift in the balance of power.

The primary driver of these changes has been the emergence of a new, tech-driven economy with heavy investment. This has enabled companies to tap into the latest technologies, to create innovative products and services and to scale quickly. This has, in turn, resulted in an influx of capital and the emergence of new industries such as e-commerce, fintech and digital media.

This new focus on technology has had a huge impact on the traditional industries in the region. Manufacturing and agriculture, for example, are being disrupted by the emergence of new players that are using advanced technologies to increase efficiency and reduce costs. This is resulting in a much more competitive landscape, with companies having to innovate and differentiate themselves in order to stay relevant.

Over the last 15 years, people from Carter Lemon Camerons LLP have regularly visited contacts, clients and friends in the region. Notable investment to infrastructure and industry is clear from the ever-changing skylines of the enormous growing cities. South-East Asian citizens keen to diversify their business and portfolios have long used Carter Lemon Camerons LLP for UK property investment as well as choosing England for arbitration work, as a destination for education including degree and postgraduate studies, for opening UK branches, and as a platform for making UK or wider European business links.

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