SMD’s Guide to Doing Business in Asia
Do Business in Asia With Confidence
Doing business in Asia requires navigating diverse legal systems, regulatory environments, and investment frameworks. Doyle’s Practical Guide to Business Law in Asia (4th Edition) offers a country-by-country roadmap to help companies, investors, and advisors understand what’s required to set up, operate, and expand across the region.
This comprehensive 428-page reference covers Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and more — each written by local legal experts. Whether you’re entering one market or several, this guide explains the practical legal considerations you must understand before making investment decisions.
You can explore the guide directly or ask questions through myLexi, our interactive assistant trained on the full text.
Highlights of What’s Inside the Guide
Entity Formation and Business Structures Each country chapter details the entity types available to foreign investors — such as private limited companies, branches, joint ventures, representative offices, and more — including capital requirements, liability issues, and strategic considerations.
Example: Bangladesh explains requirements for branches and liaison offices, including mandatory capital deposits.
Start-Up Requirements & Registration Processes Step-by-step instructions for setting up a business:
- Name reservation rules
- Required documents
- Official forms and fees
- Typical timelines
Example: Cambodia’s startup process is now centralized through the Single Portal/CamDX.
Operating as a Foreign-Held Company Clear explanations of what foreign companies can and cannot do, including sectors available to foreign investment, licensing requirements, and ongoing compliance obligations. Example: Cambodia’s laws largely do not distinguish between foreign and domestic ownership, except for land ownership restrictions.
Work Permits, Visas & Employment Regulations Each chapter explains how foreign nationals can obtain work authorization, employer responsibilities, and the relevant processing authorities.
Example: Cambodia requires work permits for all foreign employees through the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training.
Investment Incentives & Special Economic Zones Many Asian jurisdictions offer incentives such as tax holidays, import duty exemptions, and SEZ benefits.
Example: Indonesia provides corporate tax reductions of 20–100% for 10–25 years for SEZ operations.
Land Ownership, Leasing & Title Searches Guidance on what rights foreign investors have regarding land acquisition, leasing, and due diligence.
Example: Vietnam allows transfer of lease rights if project requirements are met and approvals are obtained.
Taxes, VAT Registration & Compliance Obligations Includes country-specific tax registration processes, required certificates, and compliance considerations.
Practical Country Snapshots Each section begins with a quick-reference profile including population, language, legal system, GDP, major exports, etc.
Example: Malaysia’s chapter includes a full country overview, legal system, and economic profile.
Use myLexi to navigate this guide. You can ask questions such as:
- “What type of entity should I use to set up a business in Malaysia?”
- “How do work permits for foreigners operate in Cambodia?”
- “We are a U.S. company planning to open a representative office in China. What steps are required?”
- “How do I conduct a property title search in Pakistan?”
- “If I lease land in Vietnam, what rights can be transferred?”
