[Event Recap] Source of Asia at Globallians Winter Convention 2025 – Strengthening Global Partnerships in Shanghai

Key Takeaways

• The Globallians Winter Convention 2025 in Shanghai brought together international industry leaders, government agencies, and consultants to strengthen global business collaboration.

• Discussions highlighted strategic frameworks for sustainable market expansion and cooperation in 2026 across regions, including ASEAN, Europe, and the Americas.

• Source of Asia (SOA) contributed insights on emerging opportunities in Southeast Asian markets and sector-specific trends.

• Networking sessions and panels focused on aligning international business development goals and facilitating actionable knowledge exchange.

• Participants identified evolving global supply chains and digital transformation as key drivers shaping international trade and investment strategies.

• The convention reinforced the value of shared expertise and collaborative ecosystems for supporting companies entering new markets.

In December, Globallians Winter Convention 2025 brought together international business experts, consultants, and global partners for a high-impact gathering in Shanghai, China. As one of the network’s flagship annual events, the Winter Convention is designed to unite members across continents, align strategies, and reinforce a shared mission: helping companies succeed in global markets. 

This year’s edition was hosted at the French Consulate General in Shanghai – Villa Basset. This symbolic venue reflects the strong relationship between the French business community and its international partners. Representatives from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas joined the event, including Source of Asia (SOA). 

With its theme “Explore Your Future,” the Shanghai convention highlighted collaboration, market insights, and collective ambition – elements that define the Globallians network. 

Inside Globallians Winter Convention in Shanghai 2025: Key Highlights 

The Globallians Winter Convention 2025 gathered state agencies, industry leaders, international consultants, and members of the French business community in China to strengthen global partnerships.

The Globallians Winter Convention 2025 gathered state agencies, industry leaders, international consultants, and members of the French business community in China. The atmosphere was both dynamic and forward-looking, reflecting the challenges and opportunities facing global markets today. 

The agenda included: 

• Strategic discussions on international expansion and diversification. 

• Market trend analysis across regions, including ASEAN, MEA, Europe, and North America. 

• Updates on global sourcing, industrial investments, and supply chain shifts. 

• Working groups addressing cross-border opportunities and client cases. 

• Networking moments that encouraged trust, collaboration, and future partnerships. 

A special highlight of the event was the warm reception at Villa Basset, hosted with the support of the Consul General of France in Shanghai, Mr. Joan Valadou. The evening brought together French companies, local partners, and Globallians members from around the world, reinforcing the network’s vision of “global reach through local expertise.” 

Mr. Xavier POULIQUEN (Head of Business Development of SOA) engaged in strategic discussions with fellow members and partners, emphasizing how coordinated global support can accelerate client success.

Furthermore, Globallians conventions, whether Winter or Summer, serve as strategic hubs. They allow members to align upcoming priorities, exchange best practices, and prepare for milestone initiatives or programs such as: 

• The 10th Anniversary Convention in Paris (Summer 2025) 

• The Globallians ASEAN 2026 Market Trends Webinar 

• Regional focus campaigns (MEA, Southeast Asia, Europe, Latin America), etc. 

In summary, Shanghai 2025 continued this long-standing tradition of cooperation and shared ambition. 

SOA’s Role: Strengthening ASEAN & Global Business Bridges 

As a long-standing Globallians partner and the official representative for Southeast Asia and South Korea, Source of Asia (SOA) played an active role throughout the convention. Our team contributed field insights into the region’s business landscape, with a focus on: 

• Supply chain diversification toward ASEAN. 

• Manufacturing relocation trends in Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia, etc. 

• High-potential sectors for 2026 (electronics, healthcare, green energy, logistics, digital economy). 

• Market-entry strategies for global companies expanding in Southeast Asia. 

• Investor appetite for Vietnam and regional industrial zones. 

These contributions help other Globallians members guide their clients more effectively by giving them access to updated regional intelligence, regulatory insights, and ASEAN-specific growth opportunities. 

Moreover, SOA’s CEO, Mr. Thierry MERMET, engaged in strategic discussions with fellow members and partners, including Capital Export, emphasizing the importance of coordinated global support in accelerating client success. As he highlighted, the strength of Globallians comes from its reliable ecosystem – a global network of experts who collaborate across borders to deliver real impact. 

Source of Asia’s CEO, Mr. Thierry MERMET, attended various activities at the Globallians Winter Convention 2025 in Shanghai, where trust, expertise, and shared ambition come together.

What Members Gained: Collaboration, Expertise & Shared Vision 

Globallians conventions are built on three pillars: collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and international support. 

During the recent Shanghai convention, members benefited from several key takeaways. 

1. Global market intelligence. Real-time insights from +75 countries helped participants understand new business climates and risks.
2. Practical expertise from the field. Partners shared case studies on supply chain restructuring, industrial investments, and market-entry projects.
3. A unique collaborative ecosystem. Members connected with specialists who help companies expand into new markets with confidence.
4. Shared commitment to global growth. The convention reinforced Globallians’ vision of making international expansion easier, faster, and safer for SMEs and global enterprises.

With over 750 experts supporting 10,500+ companies, Globallians continues to build one of the world’s most active networks in international business support. 

Looking Ahead to 2026 

Globallians Winter Convention in Shanghai 2025 concluded with optimism and renewed commitment. As businesses navigate a fast-changing international environment – marked by geopolitical shifts, new trade frameworks, and evolving supply chains – trusted global partnerships are more important than ever. 

Looking ahead, the network will deepen its focus on: 

• Expansion of strategic collaborations across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. 

• Strengthened service offerings, including sourcing, market expansion, and investment advisory. 

For Source of Asia, the convention reaffirmed our role as a bridge between ASEAN and global markets. We remain committed to supporting companies exploring Southeast Asia, from market intelligence to supply chain solutions and corporate setups.

“What a few days in Shanghai! The Globallians Winter Convention is always a unique moment where trust, expertise, and shared ambition come together. Proud to represent ASEAN and build the future of international business with our global partners.” – Thierry Mermet, CEO, Source of Asia.