Southeast Asia

We help companies around the world to secure customers and partners in the main six Southeast Asian economies of Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia.

We also help government agencies to grow their exports to – and attract investment from – the region. And we help Southeast Asian businesses to expand internationally.

With 800 million people, Southeast Asia has around 10% of the global population. Its rapidly developing infrastructure, tech savvy workforce and rising middle class present a highly attractive commercial market and make the region the fifth largest economy in the world.

The ‘ASEAN-6’ countries are intensively investing in digitisation, fintech, healthcare, agtech and edtech – and they’ve generated more than 30 unicorns in recent years.

To strengthen our presence in Southeast Asia, we’ve acquired highly-reputed, Singapore-headquartered market entry and trade promotion consultancy Orissa International (see more here).

Orissa’s 35-strong team has deep knowledge of the region’s markets, close industry connections and a 28-year track record of supporting more than 3,000 clients with their expansion in the region.

Get in touch to find out how we can help drive your business expansion in or from Southeast Asia.

"This was exactly what we were looking for and will set us up well to make decisions about which markets to prioritise in Asia."

Doyle Gavin – Head of Corporate Development, Boost Biomes

The Southeast Asia Market

Southeast Asia Team

Alex Barton

SVP, Managing Director

Alex leads our Southeast Asia and Taiwan teams, overseeing the delivery of our client projects in these markets. He’s developed and executed revenue-generating market entry strategies for clients, established partnerships and won ‘design-ins’ in the software, energy, medtech, life sciences, materials and automotive fields. Originally from the UK and raised in Belgium, Alex has lived in Asia for over 15 years. He is a fluent Mandarin speaker and has a BA in Chinese studies, an MA in international business and an MBA.

Sarath Menon

CEO, Orissa International

The founder of Orissa International, which we acquired in 2025, Sarath has built the company into one of the leading market entry consultancies in Southeast Asia. With over three decades in trade and investment, he has supported more than 20 government trade promotion agencies across North America, the UK and Europe with business expansion in the region, and guided more than 3,000 companies through the complexities of Southeast Asia’s diverse markets. He holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the National University of Singapore.

Kanokthip Tiraretsema (Lek)

Country Manager, Thailand

Lek leads Orissa International’s Thailand operations, with two decades' experience in business matching, market research and consulting. She has advised companies in technology, healthcare, energy, automotive, financial services and the public sector, helping them identify growth opportunities and establish influential industry connections. Lek holds a BA in Marketing from Kasetsart University and an MBA from The American University in the US.

Thao Pham

Country Manager, Vietnam

As Country Manager for Vietnam at Orissa International, Thao specialises in market entry, lead generation and partnerships, supporting companies in sectors from technology to healthcare, energy, industrial manufacturing and agribusiness. She helps them connect with stakeholders and navigate Vietnam’s regulatory landscape. She also facilitates high-value B2B engagements and delivers market intelligence. Thao holds a BA in International Economics from Ho Chi Minh City Foreign Trade University.

Anna Demetillo

Country Manager, Philippines

Anna helps international companies to expand in the Philippines. She supports clients across the technology, healthcare, energy, consumer goods and financial services sectors, facilitating partnerships and providing market intelligence. Her deep understanding of the Philippine market enables her to help businesses navigate the country’s unique opportunities. Anna holds a BSc in Business Administration from the University of Santo Tomas.

Mary Veronika

Country Manager, Indonesia

Mary leads Orissa International’s Indonesia operations, supporting overseas companies with market expansion, business development and investment promotion. She has worked with businesses in technology, healthcare, energy, agribusiness and infrastructure, helping them establish partnerships and identify growth opportunities in Indonesia. Mary holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of Krisnadwipayana in Jakarta.

Ili Salsabila Abd Razak

Country Manager, Malaysia

Ili Salsabila heads Orissa International’s Malaysia operations, supporting international companies with business matching, lead generation and market intelligence. She has worked in sectors from tech and healthcare to energy, industrial equipment and logistics, providing insights into market dynamics and regulations. Ili holds a MSc in International Business and a BSc in International Business & Management from Universiti Utara Malaysia.

Client Stories

Technology:Microbiome for food & agriculture

Objectives:Market prioritisation & regulatory assessment

Market:APAC

Result:Comprehensive report with prioritised territories & next steps

Californian biotech startup Boost Biomes engaged us to understand the opportunities, risks and regulatory requirements for its new products across APAC.

We undertook extensive research and then, to validate our findings, conducted interviews with prospective regulatory agents, partners, industry experts and other stakeholders for our client.

Within two months, we had devised a practical APAC regulatory and expansion strategy for Boost Biome. This enabled the company quickly and efficiently to allocate resources to the most promising markets in the region.

Objective:Market expansion strategy

Market:APAC

Results:Market assessment & recommended next steps

To support Goodfellow’s expansion into the region and answer fundamental questions about the location, timing and function of its planned APAC operation, we undertook a comprehensive market analysis.

We assessed the market landscape across the region for Goodfellow’s products. We also outlined the recommended next steps for our client to establish an effective APAC presence - and where this should be located – based on the needs and dynamics of the market.

Technology:Advanced materials

Market:Thailand & Indonesia

Targets:Commercial & residential building developers

Results:Comprehensive market analysis

This global materials group had developed a new glass technology and wanted us to help it understand the market potential in Thailand and Indonesia.

We conducted a market landscape analysis to identify the key component providers, potential applications and target customers.

While we concluded that the opportunities in Thailand were limited, we uncovered significant need for the new product in Indonesia. And we introduced our client to the relevant partners and stakeholders in the country.

This gave our client the best foundations to follow up the most suitable business opportunities.

Market opportunity reports

Thailand and Vietnam - Enterprise Technology

This report provides an overview of the opportunities in enterprise technology within Thailand and Vietnam, market entry strategies and explored the latest trends and developments that tech firms need to consider when growing their business in the two countries.

Key tech sectors covered include: AI, big data, ML, IoT. Key industries covered include: manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, energy and more.

This and many other support initiatives are part of the UK-APAC Tech Growth Programme which we're running for the government. You can find out more and apply to join here.

Download for free

Singapore and Malaysia – Enterprise Technology

This report provides an overview of the opportunities in enterprise technology within Singapore and Malaysia, market entry strategies and explored the latest trends and developments that tech firms need to consider when growing their business in the two countries.

Key tech sectors covered include: AI, big data, ML, IoT. Key industries covered include: logistics, manufacturing, energy, healthtech and more.

This and many other support initiatives are part of the UK-APAC Tech Growth Programme which we're running for the government. You can find out more and apply to join here.

Download for free

Oceantech - Singapore

Singapore has grand plans for ocean technology. Being an early adopter in the space is of strategic importance for the country, not only to maintain its competitive edge as a leading global maritime hub at the forefront of international logistics but also to fortify its resilience against industry disruptions, such as potential cyber threats on critical maritime infrastructure and communication networks.

This report provides an overview of the OceanTech space in Singapore and outlines the key information Canadian firms need to navigate the country’s growing market.

Request report

Some of our Connections

Intralink in Southeast Asia

"Intralink demonstrates how to do everything right."

Will O'Toole –VP of APAC, Water Wipes