The document discusses several Southeast Asian countries and their strengths and weaknesses for trade and business. Thailand and Malaysia in particular have opportunities for increased trade and cooperation. Both countries have strong agricultural sectors and similar economic bases. While Malaysia has higher incomes and more advanced technology, Thailand has a larger workforce. Overall, the region has potential for greater economic integration through ASEAN partnerships.

1. Raw
Materials
Organic
Fertilizers
Farming
Transportation GMOs
GREEN
Non-Toxic Eco-
Pesticides Tourism
Food Bio-char
Alternative
energy

2. Raw
Materials
GREEN
Organic
Food Farming
AEC – Thai Organic Products
http://greensusi.weebly.com/thai-
organic-agriculture.html

3. Thailand
Strengths
• One of the biggest base of agriculture exporters and industries in the world
• The center of logistics in ASEAN
• Good infrastructures
• Strong banking system
• Lots of workforce
Weaknesses
• Workforce lack of efficiency
• The majority of technology is not advance
Interesting Facts
• Targeting to be the center of ASEAN; Logistics, tourism
• Reflecting the preparation for the ASEAN seriously

4. ASEAN Political and To create peaceful environment within the
Security Community - region and resolve all conflicts. Another is to
APSC cooperate to deal with security and threats.
To make people live together
ASEAN Socio-Cultural under the concept of social
Community - ASCC
generosity, a good social
welfare and social stability.
To achieve economic integration in order to
ASEAN Economic prosper and compete with other regions
Community - AEC
for the well-being of people in ASEAN
countries.

5. •High labor cost
•Labor lack of efficiency
•Small market with the population
of only 400,000 Thailand
Brunei Singapore
•lower labor shortage
•High business cost
•Low population, lack of
lower work force Malaysia Philippines
•Very far from ASEAN countries
ASEAN
Cambodia Lao
•Infrastructure isn’t developed
•The relationship between us is not •Landlocked
so good, might conflict in business
Vietnam Indonesia
•Land costs and office rents are Myanmar •Logistics between countries aren’t
relatively high. developed
•The Infrastructure is not developed
•Political and policy uncertainty
•ASEAN has ten dialogue partners : Australia, Canada, China, EU, India, Japan, New Zealand, ROK, Russia, the United States
•One Observer : Timor-Lesta ( - )

6. Brunei
Greater Mekong Sub-region
(GMS)
Cambodia Singapore
ASEAN
•ASEAN Dialogue Partner
•FTA
India
Malaysia Myanmar

7. G 1018
India
Strengths
• India has up to 300million people with the ability to buy
• Huge English speaking population, availability of skilled manpower
• High growth rate of economy
• Stable economy, does not get affected by external changes
• Huge pool of labor force and huge domestic market
Weaknesses
• Threat of government intervention in some states
• Low productivity
• Low level of mechanization (Thai technologies can produce 3 times more production)
Interesting facts
• The ministry of agriculture in India reduce tax for agriculture products
• Import Longan, Negrito, Durian, Mangosteen; in the future might include Thai tamarind
• Inflow of Foreign Direct Investment is likely to increase in many sectors
• Agriculture excessively dependent on monsoons
• Needs lots of rubber (ASEAN export 76% of the world rubber)

8. Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS)

9. Singapore
Strengths
• Average income per person is the highest in ASEAN and listed as the top 15 in the world
• Political stability
• The center of international finance
• Highly skilled workers
• Human resources and business management expertise.
• Sea transportation advantage
Weaknesses
• Depending on imported raw materials
• lower labor shortage
• High business cost
Interesting Fact
• Trying to expand the economy to the service sector to reduce dependence on exports

10. Myanmar
Strengths
• Lots of natural resources such as natural and gas
• Connected to India and China
• Relatively low wages ( USD/day)
Weaknesses
• The Infrastructure is not developed
• Political and policy uncertainty.
Interesting Fact
• Developing in transportation; high-speed rail, road

11. Brunei
Strengths
• The average income is the second highest in ASEAN and rank 26th highest in the world
• Politics is stable
• Brunei exports oil and it’s the 4th biggest oil reserve in ASEAN
Weaknesses
• Small market with the population of only 400,000
• Lack of labor force
Interesting facts
• Brunei has close economics relation with Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia
• The logistic mainly depended on Singapore
• Brunei highly value Food Security

12. Cambodia
Strengths
• Plenty of natural resources; especially water, forests and minerals
• Lowest labor cost in ASEAN (1.6 USD/day)
Weaknesses
• Infrastructures are not developed yet
• The cost of public utilities are quite high (water, electricity and communication services)
• The labor is lack of efficiency
Interesting fact
• The conflict between Thailand and Cambodia might effects the business opportunity in the
future

13. Malaysia
Strengths
• Third highest average income in ASEAN
• Malaysia has the third largest oil reservation and second largest natural gas reservation in
Asia-Pacific
• Malaysia has the complete fundamental structure
Weaknesses
• lack of lower workforce
Interesting facts
• Their goal is to be developed country by 2020
• The base of productions and exportations are similar to Thailand
• Malaysia has the policy to develop their production with advance technology

14. Thailand & Malaysia Trading