ASEANs Manufacturing Powerhouse isn’t Thailand
The latest trend/headline that is popping up more and more often is that Vietnam is the place to be as a manufacturing base for the region because of its younger/cheaper population. And its a story I believe, Thailand, in my viewpoint is still relatively safe for the next 10 years but after that, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Vietnam beat Thailand at everything except perhaps logistics.
If you thought Asia’s manufacturing giants are just China, South Korea and Thailand, say hello to a new one: Vietnam. Its benchmark purchasing managers’ index for manufacturing has expanded — a reading above 50 — every month since Aug. 2013, according to HSBC and Markit Economics.
Source: Bloomberg
Bo Stenberg
Oh yeah. Shame about the system–the relic of another time when VN had no choice other than national mobilization. A time when it took on The Most Powerful Nation on Earth…and, incredibly, persevered. And won. The Thermopylae of the Orient.
I have the first page of the Bangkok Post announcing the opening of the Hanoi Stock Exchange. I stare at that from time to time.
A different era now. That old system is falling away, as systems do. But if, as Heraclitus surmised, character is fate (not systems, not race, not political delusion)–then VN was, has been and will be truly something to see. Like Singapore, a reminder that in the sad history of this species, there are exceptions.
So when, Khun Pon, do you start up the VN ETF for punters on the SET? How often do you get to make a wager on character?
Pon
There are several ETF’s that are available globally for VN but you can’t buy any locally in Thailand – open accounts in the US/Singapore and you’re good to go.
I’ll be starting something else for ASEAN that will launch shortly.
A wager on character? Very often, it’s quite easy to stay away from lazy owner’s & CEOs.