Invest in Southeast Asia to step ahead

[Simon Terry, General Manager Philippines, GHD] GHD is a global professional services company that provides engineering, architectural, environmental advisory and digital services.

In 1998, we commenced operations in the Philippines and have grown a handful of employees to more than a thousand.

Expanding our footprint became essential to diversify market risk.

First, there was low growth in developed economies.

Investing overseas was a way to diversify our revenue stream and reduce dependency on a single region.

In 2020, we expanded our operations to Singapore so we can capitalize on opportunities arising out of strong investment in infrastructure demand across the region.

For 25 years, we've been working with Malad and Manila Water to provide water to the people of Manila.

Renewables are vital to the future energy mix for the Philippines and GHD has been working closely with ACEN in developing new solar and wind farms.

The government provided business incentives to established in the Philippines.

Among all the countries in Asia, the Philippines were selected as the first country invested in because it was a developing economy with a significant need for infrastructure.

There are local clients aligned to GHD's values.

We had access to a skilled workforce, English is widely used in business.

We started our partnership with Austrade before we established our presence in the Philippines.

Austrade gave us early insights into the Philippines market, that helped us navigate the challenge of establishing our business, both from a regulatory aspect and connecting us with partners and clients.

Over the last 25, years we have worked closely with Austrade in a two-way relationship.

GHD has provided market and business insights to Austrade and Austrade has connected GHD to government, partners and clients.

For GHD the obvious outcome has been a growth in revenue with a greater market exposure.

The recent joint declaration of a strategic partnership between the Philippines and Australia has lifted the focus and intensity on trade.

In the Philippines, the average age is 25 years, which means there is a large number of talented individuals being trained by highly reputable institutions.

The skilled resources can fill the ever growing Australian demand for talent.

We're very excited about the strengthening of trade between southeast Asia and Australia.

[Glenn Keys, Founder, Aspen Medical] Aspen Medical is a wholly owned Australian company.

My wife and I founded the company 21 years ago in 2003 here in Canberra.

We now operate in 23 countries around the world with about 6,500 staff.

And we'll provide complete health services as much or as little as a customer needs.

So we can provide the people, the equipment, facilities, pharmaceuticals, consumables, technology, ambulance, aircraft, whatever is required wherever a customer needs us.

So as a company Aspen Medical saw an amazing growth opportunity in Southeast Asia.

Austrade were great support, they connected us with key partners get us in front of the right people, and provided terrific advice. 

We settled on Indonesia, their growth rates are far higher than that of Australia. And quite honestly, they're desperate for the level of product and services that Australia sells.

We have an assignment from the governor of West Java to build 23 hospitals and 650 primary care clinics across West Java, in what will be the biggest Health infrastructure program in Indonesia's history.

We're building our first hospital now at Depok and it will be the first green accredited hospital in Indonesia's history.

I would suggest to Australian companies that are looking to expand into southeast Asia, take the time, do the research, look at the guidance and support provided by by the Australian government through areas like Austrade.

Talk to other people who are up there and get up there on the ground, make connections, meet people and pick one project to start with and grow from there.

Investing in Southeast Asia, getting business for Australian products and services, that's going to grow Australian revenue, grow Australian employment and let us have exports not only into southeast Asia but allow us to grow those exports internationally.