The ASEAN Economic Community and What it means for Intellectual Property

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Page 3It is still common in the West to encounter confusion or lack of recognition of the ‘ASEAN’ acronym that groups the Southeast Asian nations. Not surprising really, given that there have been few memorable ASEAN events of consequence for foreign businesses over its near 50 year history. Up until now, for most it has stood for more as an ‘on paper’ political union over any great effects on international business.

This is set to change, as in 2015 the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) was officially fully established. In some ways similar to the economic unity of the EU, the broad aims of the AEC are to develop (1) a single market and production base, (2) a region of more equitable economic development, and (3) a globally integrated economic region. To achieve these, trade barriers will be removed or reduced and standards across a number of sectors (i.e. cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, agricultural products, and medical devices) will be harmonised. Continue reading “The ASEAN Economic Community and What it means for Intellectual Property” »

Tips for Protecting your Brand in South-East Asia

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Business in South-East Asia – the facts and figures

Economic growth in South-East Asia has been, and is likely to remain strong. As its Thailandeconomies have shifted from exports to a broader base of growth drivers, both consumption and investment in the region has soared[1].

Between 2015 and 2019, it is predicted that the ten ASEAN nations (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam) will experience 5.6% GDP growth on average, with business fueling much of the growth in the region[2].

This region is increasingly attractive for international trade and foreign investment, due to rising domestic demand for foreign products. Among the most promising sectors for European companies in South-East Asia are electronics, automotive components, mechanical engineering (machinery), IT/software, food processing and leisure and tourism. Continue reading “Tips for Protecting your Brand in South-East Asia” »

Top 3 IPR mistakes for SMEs in South-East Asia

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shutterstock_182269964A wide range of foreign industries are now looking to Southeast Asia not just to take advantage of an abundance of cheap labour for exportables, but also to tap into new consumer markets formed from a growing middle-class population. While these opportunities can lead to substantial returns for European businesses, via both the production and sales side, the less developed nature of business-related legislation means the dangers of intellectual property (IP) infringement are often great.

There are very few SMEs who would not take the issue of intellectual property rights (IPR) seriously in their business strategies, nevertheless there are some issues that are commonly overlooked and can even lead to commercial disaster. Here we take a look, in no particular order, at the top 3 IPR mistakes SMEs make… Continue reading “Top 3 IPR mistakes for SMEs in South-East Asia” »

Intellectual Property and Shandong’s Tech-driven Growth

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shutterstock_245934913Business continues to boom in Shandong, with manufacturing dominating the economy; in the past the province has been a cradle for some of China’s better known national champions, such as electronics manufacturers Haier and Hisense, and others are likely to soon follow. Machinery and component manufacture has been particularly important in driving the industrial development of Qingdao, and this has been boosted by the local government’s efforts to attract high-tech foreign firms to Shandong, via special high-tech and export zones.

Qingdao and the other major industrial cities in Shandong (like Yantai, Zibo, Weifang, Jinan) are an attractive option for advanced manufacturing, not least because of their relatively cheap rent, easy access to a large concentration of suppliers, and well-established shipping routes. However, the threat of intellectual property theft, such as the copying of designs, patented inventions, or company trade marks, remains high throughout China and no less so in Shandong. Continue reading “Intellectual Property and Shandong’s Tech-driven Growth” »

Benefits of an FTA in South-East Asia from SMEs’ perspective: experience from Vietnam

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EU-VietnamFTA – An increasingly hot topic in South-East Asia

Brief overview of the advantages of FTA

In recent decades Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) have become more and more prolific in South-East Asia as nations strive to boost the volume of trade. FTAs are considered to be beneficial, as they; enhance trading opportunities, increase exports, create stronger ties between trading partners, offer new opportunities for foreign investment and wider economic integration by lowering trade barriers and harmonizing legal and regulatory systems through the application of international standards.

On-going FTA negotiations in South-East Asia

The instrument of FTAs is widely used by various governments. Currently, there is a great number of FTAs (almost 40 according to World Trade Organization (WTO)) already in the implementation phase in the South-East Asia region and many more in the negotiation phase. Vietnam, for example, is included in the implementation of at least 12 FTAs and has recently initialled 4 more FTAs, including the EU-Vietnam FTA (EVFTA). The European Union (EU) has worked towards establishing FTAs with a number of South-East Asian countries in order to boost trade in a more predictable environment for trade and investment relations. Following the conclusion of the EU-Singapore FTA in 2014, negotiations with Vietnam were completed in December 2015 – the same month in which negotiations for an FTA with the Philippines were launched. The EU also remains committed to resuming negotiations with Malaysia and Thailand when conditions are right. It has also concluded the scoping exercise with Indonesia and is working towards the opening of FTA negotiations. This article will take a closer look at the changes that the EVFTA will implement in relation to IPR and what this may mean for European SMEs. Continue reading “Benefits of an FTA in South-East Asia from SMEs’ perspective: experience from Vietnam” »