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Vietnam is one of Southeast Asia’s most promising emerging economies, with its GDP growing by more than 8% for a third consecutive year. Its accession to the WTO in January 2007, has also led to both growth and market-oriented reforms resulting in strong domestic demand. These have contributed to a 16% growth in investments to reach 40.4% of GDP, one of the highest rates in Asia.

Hong Kong is on the Southeast coast of China, 70 miles from the Tropic of Cancer. With an area of 404 square miles, Hong Kong is about four times the size of Washington, D.C. The territory consists of Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula, Stonecutter's Island, the New Territories, and various surrounding islands.

1.Sales Service/Customer Support ;2.Protecting Your Intellectual Property ;3.Due Diligence ;4.Local Professional Services ;5.Web Resources ;

Tough economic times have made price an increasingly important consideration for Japanese consumers.  Traditionally, many people made their buying decisions based on a product's attributes, quality, and brand name and they were willing to pay more for superior quality.  However, Japanese consumers are now more price conscious and notions such as bargains and value have become mainstream.  If an imported product can be purchased more cheaply than a domestic product, consumers will be interested.  This has proven to many Japanese that U.S. products can be affordable and of a quality that’s similar or even superior to Japanese goods.

Because many U.S. products fit a cultural or industrial environment that may not exist in Japan, educating the Japanese consumer about a product's purpose, use, features, and quality might be necessary.  However, not all companies can afford to place advertisements in Japan's major national daily newspapers or commercials on Japanese television.  Regional and local newspapers and television stations and daily sports newspapers are less expensive and might make sense for a product with strong potential in a specific region.  A more affordable option for small- to medium-size or new-to-market U.S. companies might be advertising in some of Japan's 2,250 weekly or monthly magazines.  

According to the statistics published in March 2006 by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the market size of business-to-business (B2B) electronic commerce in Japan in 2005 was 140.4 trillion yen ($1.3 billion).  The industry sectors that are the biggest users of B2B electronic commerce are wholesalers (41.7 trillion yen or $379 billion), followed by electronic/IT  (21.9 trillion yen or $200 billion), and transportation-related parts and equipment (21.7 trillion yen or $197.5 billion).

To be successful in Japan, U.S. exporters must pursue sustained personal contact with their customers.  A visiting U.S. company representative should accompany the firm’s Japanese agent or distributor on visits to existing or potential customers.  Such joint sales calls demonstrate a commitment to clients and are an excellent way to obtain market feedback.

Traditionally, imported consumer goods have been found at larger outlets such as department stores and discount houses.  But there has been dramatic growth in specialty retailers, notably foreign names that import foreign goods.  

On January 1, 1996, Japan implemented the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement in an effort to expand opportunities for foreign firms and increase international competition in government procurement in Japan.  The agreement extended coverage to include the procurement of services as well as procurement throughout Japan by what are referred to as "sub-central government entities."  These entities include all of the prefectural (regional) governments in Japan, major cities and designated municipalities, and a host of other quasi-governmental agencies, corporations, companies and authorities.

U.S. companies with limited resources or a short investment horizon may wish to consider product licensing as a way to enter Japan. The direct costs of finding an appropriate licensee are small compared to other forms of market entry. Once an agreement is reached, licensing fees and royalties are low-cost, low-maintenance income for the U.S. company.