TO KNOW THE PEOPLE GET
TO KNOW THE PEOPLE GET OUR GLOBAL NETWORK BEHIND Guest: Marc Förster Head of ASEAN Advisory Host: Pascal Lowther Key Account Manager Hi Marco, great to have you as my interview partner in this issue. Let`s start! What are the biggest challenges you are facing in your daily business? The biggest challenge we are facing in our daily business is the highly fluid situation in the APAC region. Dealing with so many different countries, especially in Southeast Asia, with diverse political systems, economies, and regulatory environments can prove to be a herculean task. Quick changes in law and business sentiment further add to the complexity of our operations. Your company is offering "Market Entry and Cross Regional Reports" - what were the reasons for this kind of service? We offer business intelligence to meet the growing demand for tailored market insights among foreign investors in diverse Asian economies. These reports give a detailed analysis of various parameters such as tariffs, labor costs, infrastructure, internet freedom, taxation, competitor analysis, and many more. We’re here to provide comprehensive and actionable knowledge needed to make well-informed decisions and mitigate risks. Our ultimate goal is to empower clients to successfully establish and expand their operations in the right place in Asia. How has the pandemic affected your business? The pandemic has brought about significant changes to our business. We have shifted from being predominantly a China FDI practice to helping many companies diversify their supply chains across the region. While our China business is still growing, our offices are growing faster in South and Southeast Asia, especially in India, Indonesia, and Vietnam. 30 convinus.com
Are there any big projects for your customers (maybe new tools, app, etc.) where you can give us a sneak preview? We have some exciting projects coming up. One of them is the Asia Briefing Country Portals on Vietnam, China, Singapore, India, and Indonesia. These portals will provide everything you need for doing business in these countries from legal, tax, HR, IT, and accounting aspects. We are also rolling out our AsiaAdmin payroll portal to help our clients with HR administration, salary calculations, and more across their multiple entities in Asia. If your job was a colour - what colour would it be? It would be gray. Many things in Asia operate and work only in the gray zone, which creates a need for creative solutions to implement and achieve what’s planned. Who would you like to swap a day within your professional life? Given a chance, I would like to swap a day with a forester. My German last name "Förster" means forester, and it's likely that my ancestors took care of the woods and the health of the local ecosystem. What has been the biggest "AHA" moment in your role? The most impactful revelation in my current role occurred when I grasped the immense potential of Southeast Asia as an emerging market. I am half Vietnamese and can still recall life in the 90s here. However, when I relocated back in 2021, in the midst of the pandemic, I was astonished by the swift pace of change and development. Where do you get the best ideas? The best ideas often come to me when I am traveling or meeting new people. Cultural exchange and diverse perspectives often spark innovative thoughts and solutions. What advice would you give to your 25-year-old ME from today's perspective? Looking back, I would advise my 25-year-old self to embrace change and uncertainty. It's an inevitable part of working in this region. Realizing shifts and trends, acting quickly, and overall, being adaptable is the key to success. On the other hand, it was just a mere 3 years ago when I was that age, so I might have some wiser words to share once I’m older. Marco, thank you so much for this interview and I look forward to read your article! convinus.com 31
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