Where to locate

[Severn 109]

Many people on this board have given excellent advice to me in the past and today I was asked a question by a colleague which I couldn't help with. Then I thought of all the advice received from you good people.

 

The situation is that my friend works in global logistics and is married to a Thai wife. He currently lives and works in the UK for UK £. The company we work for has branches in most countries but recently has become more involved in south Asia (South Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Laos etc.) and he is in line to work in the area. Pay would probably be in Euro.

 

His question is which country or area would be the most beneficial to put down a base not only from an earnings perspective but for a good UK ex-patriot community. Thailand living south of the airport seems a good possibility hence this Pattaya connection. Any help or advice, or pointers as to where to find out more, would be appreciated.

[cowboy 0]

I owuld stay away from malaysia too many problem with muslims there. They will give him and the Thai wife a hard time.

 

Singapore might be a good choice. He should have no problems there thai wife accepted everywhere. Plenty of english peaking people and a good city. I would not recommend sing for a long vacation becuase there is not much to do from a vacation stand point. but lots of movies in english. good parks, football and cricket golf and a large expat community amke a good place to live. easy 1 hour flight to pattaya. phuket, or bkk cheap fares as well. if he ever needs to he can also got to work in a/c with a 90 minute flight to clark.

[Owen` 2]

Hard to argue with Singapore. Malaysia is not uniformly bad from Muslims, but that situation is likely to worsen rather than improve -- and really, for the situation described -- the bottom line is where is the best access to elsewhere via airlines. Bangkok and Singapore have the discount airlines that go all over Asia based in BKK or SIN.

 

Singapore is more expensive, but with a Euro salary he's still going to come out ahead and it's an English speaking city.

[Gary 4,119]

Since his wife is Thai, obviously Thailand is the best answer. If he can't manage to get to Thailand then Singapore would be difficult to beat. It's only a short flight to anywhere in Thailand. Nice modern city with all the advantages of any first world city.

[Spock 4]

Why not try Australia as an option, Darwin , Brisbane or Sydney. Living expenses maybe higher but getting pay in Euros will off this. Australia is still the lucky country and its only a 9.5 hour flight from Sydney to Bangkok, even shorter from Darwin.

[sabang 0]

The largest regional centre of global logistics (by far) is also the city that is pretty much at the centre of the countries you mention.

But Hong Kong is expensive, although business friendly. This company needs to be more than a mum & pop outfit to have the budget to set up there, pay an expat wage, and see it through. It is, on the information you present, probably the number one choice. Most global logistics operations have their regional HQ there.

Basing from the new Thai International airport is quite logical too. It would be cheaper to set up here, although the tax and regulatory environment certainly does not match that of HK. The container port is close to the airport also.

Singapore is also a fair choice.

 

I think in the final analysis, it depends on where they expect to sourcing most of their business from. If they are truly global, my guess is they will bite the bullet and choose HK.

[BigDUSA 71]

Friend of mine who's been living in Asia for almost 40 years feels that Malaysia is the most expat friendly and generally speaking a low hassle country. S'pore where he lived for many years comes in second. Personally I like S'pore and except for the prices..........................

[Severn 109]

Thanks everyone. I have passed your ideas on, it seems that Singapore is a good bet followed by Thailand.

[ginseng 0]

Singapore has to be the safest bet to invest in a career. It's not the most exciting place but as far as economic stability and prosperity it's clearly #1. It's true the Cost of living is higher but if you lived a low key life and saved your fun for Thailand you'd come out ahead.

[ozijeff 9]

singapore

[aqua4 2]

I would go with BigD and side with Malaysia.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Malaysia for the ex-pat community, cost of living, variety of cities/islands/up-country, infrastructure, language and ease of access via KL and Air Asia to just about anywhere in the region.

 

Singapore would be second choice (HK is suffering from ridiculously poor air quality) but too many of the ex-pats there have over-inflated ideas of their own self-importance.

[Bullfrog 2,224]

Malaysia for the ex-pat community, cost of living, variety of cities/islands/up-country, infrastructure, language and ease of access via KL and Air Asia to just about anywhere in the region.

 

Singapore would be second choice (HK is suffering from ridiculously poor air quality) but too many of the ex-pats there have over-inflated ideas of their own self-importance.

 

I have lived and worked around Asia for 17 years and concur with all of the above statements but would like to add a couple of points.

 

1. Whilst living in Singapore my ex Thai wife was verbally abused and propositioned regularly by taxi drivers but she just phoned me each time and they backed off.

 

2. Whilst in Malaysia my Pino GF was often given the same treatment by the Indian faction of the Malay Police force.

 

3. Depending on where you live and work in KL, traffic at rush hour ( what an oxymoron!) can be bloody awefull and on a par with BKK when the BTS system was being built for those that remember!!!

 

4. Totally agree with expats in HK being right up there own asses.

 

5. Has your mate thought about Beijing or Shanghai? If he speaks Thai, Mandarin will be pretty easy to pick up..I managed it and I am a thick Dorset farmer!!!

Edited February 9, 2007 by Bullfrog

[BigDUSA 71]

Singapore would be second choice (HK is suffering from ridiculously poor air quality) but too many of the ex-pats there have over-inflated ideas of their own self-importance.

 

You should fit right in.