CEIBS Global EMBA Program Hosts Dezan Shira & Associates for Southeast Asia Investment Session in Ho Chi Minh City

HO CHI MINH CITY – On May 12, Dezan Shira & Associates’ Quinn Lu (Kuala Lumpur) and Dan Martin (Hanoi) delivered a guest lecture for the China Europe International Business School’s (CEIBS) Global Executive MBA (GEMBA) program during its study visit to Ho Chi Minh City.

The session brought together senior executives from across Asia and centered on comparative investment opportunities in Southeast Asia, with a particular focus on high-tech manufacturing and regional value chains.

Quinn highlighted Malaysia’s established role as a key hub in the global semiconductor industry, emphasizing its strengths in assembly, testing, and packaging (ATP), as well as ongoing efforts to move up the value chain into front-end processes, IC design, and R&D. With world-class industrial zones like Penang and Kulim, and the government’s proactive industrial policy under the NIMP 2030, Malaysia continues to attract major FDI from global players such as ARM Limited, Infineon, and ASE.

“It was a pleasure to share more about Malaysia with such an engaged and curious audience. The genuine interest in learning about our country made the experience all the more meaningful. I had the opportunity to highlight some of Malaysia’s leading sectors and share a few insider insights that aren’t always covered in the headlines. One of the key highlights for me was the Q&A session—it was highly interactive and provided a great platform for open dialogue. It was encouraging to exchange perspectives and showcase the unique strengths each country brings to the table,” Quinn shared.

Dan followed with a discussion on Vietnam’s evolving role in global value chains, noting the country’s rise as a favored destination for supply chain diversification and high-tech manufacturing. Recent developments—such as Amkor Technology’s US$1.6 billion advanced packaging facility in Bac Ninh—highlight Vietnam’s ambition to become a meaningful player in the semiconductor ecosystem.

“This event was a great opportunity to share on-the-ground insights from Vietnam and help demystify some of the real-world opportunities and challenges companies face when setting up here,” Dan concluded.

The speakers also explored potential synergies between Malaysia and Vietnam. As multinational companies look to de-risk and regionalize production, many are adopting a multi-country strategy—leveraging Malaysia for advanced capabilities and ecosystem maturity, while utilizing Vietnam for cost-efficient, scalable manufacturing and expansion capacity. This complementary positioning allows firms to optimize both supply chain resilience and cost-performance balance within ASEAN.

The engagement coincided with a major milestone for CEIBS: its Global EMBA program was ranked #1 in the world in the Financial Times 2024 EMBA Ranking—marking the first time a business school from mainland China has topped the list. We are very proud that our experts from Dezan Shira & Associates were a part of the program and helps to increase awareness and understanding for the tremendous opportunities in both, the Malaysian and the Vietnamese market and across Asia.

Looking Ahead

If you are interested in learning more about Vietnam’s vibrant business environment get in touch here: vietnam@dezshira.com
Investors looking into Malaysia for expanding their operations can directly get a first consultation from our advisor at malaysia@dezshira.com

Further resources:

• Investing in Malaysia – Key Sectors and Opportunities for Foreign Investors
• Vietnam’s Import-Export Regime: Managing Customs and Accessing Tax Benefits
• Halal Markets Unveiled: Opportunities in Southeast Asia’s Economic Powerhouses
• China Industries to Watch in 2025 Tapping into Growth Opportunities

 

 

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