Other BriefingsVietnam Foreign Worker Penalties Under Decree 283
Vietnam’s Decree 283 takes effect on 10 September 2026, updating the penalty framework for foreign-worker violations. Employers should review work authorisations, assignments, notification duties, and document-return procedures.
Virtual CFO vs Full-Time CFO in Singapore: Which Is More Cost-Effective?
Compare the cost of a virtual CFO and full-time CFO in Singapore, including salaries, employment costs, and when each model makes financial sense.
Can Foreign Investors Reduce Capital Gains Tax on Share Transfers in Indonesia?
Foreign investors can reduce tax on Indonesian share transfers through transaction structuring and applicable tax treaty provisions.
5 Common Contract Mistakes When Doing Business in Vietnam
Foreign businesses can reduce contract risk in Vietnam by verifying signing authority, localising contractual terms, defining performance standards, protecting payment, and establishing enforceable termination rights.
-
Why Singapore Is a Strategic Launchpad for Vietnamese Enterprises
Sep 02 -
How Do Companies Register Their Books of Accounts with the BIR in the Philippines?
Sep 01 -
How Indonesia’s VAT Reverse-Charge Mechanism Works
Aug 31 -
Working in Vietnam as a Foreign Employee: Visas, Work Permits, Tax, and Social Insurance in 2026
Aug 27 -
Should Investors Use Nominee Structures or Direct Shareholding in the Philippines?
Aug 26
Get free access to our subscriptions and publications
Subscribe to receive weekly ASEAN Briefing news updates, our latest doing business publications, and access to our Asia archives.
Sign Up Now
Indonesia
Can Foreign Investors Reduce Capital Gains Tax on Share Transfers in Indonesia?
Sep 03Foreign investors can reduce tax on Indonesian share transfers through transaction structuring and applicable tax treaty provisions.
-
How Indonesia’s VAT Reverse-Charge Mechanism Works
Aug 31Indonesia’s VAT reverse-charge rules can apply to overseas services and intangible goods used by Indonesian companies, including intra-group transactions.
-
Indonesia Representative Offices: What They Can and Cannot Do
Aug 20Indonesia permits several types of foreign representative offices, each with specific rules on commercial activities, trade representation, and construction services.
-
Should Foreign Investors Operate Through One Entity or Multiple Subsidiaries in Indonesia?
-
Investing in Indonesia's Renewable Energy Sector: A Market Entry Guide for Foreign Investors
-
Customs and Trade Strategy in Indonesia: An Investor's Guide
As shifting supply chains, new trade agreements, and a growing manufacturing base reshape the economy, investors must understand how to navigate custo...
Malaysia
How Joint Ventures Are Structured Between Malaysian and Foreign Partners
Sep 02Malaysian-foreign joint ventures can divide ownership, funding, control, and exit rights in different ways depending on the investment structure and sector.
-
Should Foreign Investors Use Labuan for Holding Structures in Malaysia?
Aug 26Assess whether a Labuan or ordinary Malaysian holding company offers the stronger structure for your investments, tax position, and regional operations.
-
How to Choose an Accounting Firm in Malaysia
Aug 05Choose an accounting firm in Malaysia with confidence. Compare the factors foreign investors should evaluate, from tax compliance and reporting to investment incentives and cross-border operations.
-
When Is a Bumiputera Partner Required in Malaysia?
-
Structuring a Tax-Efficient Operating Model in Malaysia
-
Investing in Malaysia - Key Sectors and Opportunities for Foreign Investors
This issue of Investing in Malaysia provides a comprehensive analysis of the country’s key investment sectors, outlining growth trends, regulatory d...
Philippines
How Do Companies Register Their Books of Accounts with the BIR in the Philippines?
Sep 01Companies in the Philippines must register their books of accounts with the BIR. This article covers manual, loose-leaf, and computerized books.
-
Should Investors Use Nominee Structures or Direct Shareholding in the Philippines?
Aug 26Compare nominee structures and direct shareholding in the Philippines, including foreign ownership limits, Anti-Dummy Law risks, and beneficial ownership rules.
-
How Location Affects Tax Incentives for Investments in the Philippines
Aug 19Investment location can affect tax incentives in the Philippines, including income tax holidays, VAT, customs duties, and local tax treatment.
-
Branch or Subsidiary in the Philippines: Which Structure Is More Tax Efficient?
-
Annual Reporting Obligations for Foreign-Owned Companies in the Philippines
-
Unlocking the ASEAN-6 | ESG Transition Overview 2024
Unlocking the ASEAN-6 | ESG Transition Landscape 2024 offers essential insights into the evolving sustainability reporting requirements of Southeast A...
Singapore
Virtual CFO vs Full-Time CFO in Singapore: Which Is More Cost-Effective?
Sep 03Compare the cost of a virtual CFO and full-time CFO in Singapore, including salaries, employment costs, and when each model makes financial sense.
-
Why Singapore Is a Strategic Launchpad for Vietnamese Enterprises
Sep 02Explore why Singapore is an attractive base for Vietnamese businesses expanding overseas, including access to capital, tax advantages, regional connectivity, talent, and investment support.
-
What Does a Virtual CFO Actually Do for a Singapore Company?
Aug 21See how a Virtual CFO supports Singapore companies with financial reporting, cash flow, forecasting, financial controls, and investment decisions.
-
How Businesses Should Structure Intercompany Service Fees in Singapore
-
Launching a Financial Services or Fintech Business in Singapore: What Foreign Investors Need to Know
-
From Scale to Strategy: India–Singapore Pathways for Growth and Innovation
As India–Singapore ties move from strategic intent to execution, businesses need clarity on where opportunities are becoming commercially viable. Th...
Thailand
Step-by-Step Company Registration Process in Thailand for Foreign Investors
Aug 12Registering a company in Thailand requires the right ownership structure, incorporation process, tax registrations, and operating approvals.
-
Hiring Foreign Employees in Thailand: Work Permit Rules
Jul 15Hiring foreign employees in Thailand requires compliance with work permit rules, employer eligibility requirements, application procedures, and ongoing obligations.
-
Thai Investment in Vietnam: Key Investors, Growth Sectors, and Market Entry Strategies in 2026
Jun 23Thailand is Vietnam’s second-largest ASEAN investor, with US$15.4 billion in registered capital. Explore leading Thai investors, priority sectors, market entry strategies, and opportunities for businesses entering Vietnam in 2026.
-
When Should Foreign Investors Establish a Private Limited Company in Thailand?
-
Thailand’s Foreign Business Act Reform Reduces Licensing Barriers for Selected Foreign Investors
-
Investing Across Borders: Opportunities in the Johor–Singapore SEZ
This publication sets out the rationale behind the Johor-Singapore SEZ, the sectors it is likely to support, and the broader context in which it is be...
Vietnam
Vietnam Manufacturing Tracker: A First-Half 2026 Review
Jul 14The Vietnam Manufacturing Tracker provides the latest data, industrial production indicators, and export performance insights to help investors monitor Vietnam’s fast-evolving manufacturing landscape.
-
Vietnam Manufacturing Tracker: A First-Half 2026 Review
Jul 14The Vietnam Manufacturing Tracker provides the latest data, industrial production indicators, and export performance insights to help investors monitor Vietnam’s fast-evolving manufacturing landscape.
-
Vietnam’s Regional Minimum Wage Effective from January 1, 2026
Nov 11Vietnam’s government has officially updated the regional minimum wage for contract-based workers, which will take effect from January 1, 2026.
-
Vietnam’s Regional Minimum Wage Effective from January 1, 2026
-
Vietnam’s First Draft of New Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) Released for Public Comments
-
Vietnam's New Personal Data Protection Rules: Compliance, Governance, and Risk Management Guide
Vietnam's new personal data protection framework introduces significant compliance and governance obligations for businesses. Vietnam’s New Personal...
Rest of ASEAN
GCC–ASEAN Free Trade Talks: What a Deal Would Mean for UAE Businesses in Southeast Asia
Jul 27ASEAN and the GCC are studying a bloc-to-bloc free trade agreement, and the UAE (nearly half of GCC–ASEAN trade) has the most at stake. This guide explains what a deal would add beyond the UAE's existing CEPAs, which sectors gain most, and how businesses can prepare before any text exists.
-
Using a UAE Holding Company to Invest in Asia: A Guide for GCC-Based Investors
Jul 09As GCC capital flows increasingly toward India, ASEAN, Singapore, and Hong Kong, UAE holding companies are emerging as a strategic structure for Asia-focused investment. This article examines how treaty access, tax efficiency, substance, succession planning, and exit mechanics can shape returns for Gulf-based investors.
-
Thai Investment in Vietnam: Key Investors, Growth Sectors, and Market Entry Strategies in 2026
Jun 23Thailand is Vietnam’s second-largest ASEAN investor, with US$15.4 billion in registered capital. Explore leading Thai investors, priority sectors, market entry strategies, and opportunities for businesses entering Vietnam in 2026.
-
How Singapore's Double Taxation Agreements Can Reduce Withholding Taxes on Cross-Border Investments
-
Índice manufacturero asiático: Malasia se sitúa en segundo lugar entre las economías de la ASEAN
-
Vietnam's New Personal Data Protection Rules: Compliance, Governance, and Risk Management Guide
Vietnam's new personal data protection framework introduces significant compliance and governance obligations for businesses. Vietnam’s New Personal...