Last week, on June 5th, our team at Source of Asia, in collaboration with Caisse d’Epargne CEPAC and Globallians, hosted a webinar titled “Diversifiez vos approvisionnements en Asie du Sud-Est” (Diversify your Supply Chains in Southeast Asia). The remarkable turnout underscored the critical importance of supply chain diversification in today’s global landscape, demonstrating that this topic matters more than ever.
Why ASEAN? The Strategic Imperative for Diversification
In a global context marked by geopolitical tensions and persistent logistical disruptions, the diversification of supply chains has become a strategic necessity for businesses worldwide. Our expert speakers highlighted why Southeast Asia (ASEAN) is rapidly emerging as a pivotal region to secure and optimize supply chains. The region presents immense sourcing opportunities across diverse sectors, including:
- Textile
- Electronics
- Seafood
- Furniture
A key takeaway from the session established ASEAN’s economic trajectory: the region is poised to become the world’s 4th largest economy by 2030. This dynamic growth, coupled with a young population, a growing middle class, strategic location, diverse economies, and numerous Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), makes ASEAN an incredibly attractive alternative beyond traditional sourcing hubs.
Key Insights: Smart Sourcing Strategies in Southeast Asia
The webinar provided invaluable insights into smart sourcing strategies tailored for the ASEAN region. Participants gained practical solutions and concrete strategies for:
- Bi-sourcing:
Adopting a dual-source strategy—such as combining suppliers in Vietnam and Thailand—helps reduce overreliance on one origin and strengthens supply chain continuity in times of disruption.
- Effective Risk Control:
We emphasized the importance of identifying country-specific risks (regulatory, logistical, operational) early and developing proactive mitigation plans tailored to the ASEAN context.
- Quality Audits:
Rigorous supplier audits—covering production capacity, compliance, and quality systems—are essential to ensure reliability before onboarding new manufacturers in the region.
The session also covered how to find reliable suppliers, negotiate efficiently, and simplify import procedures in the ASEAN market. To illustrate these concepts, our team shared real-world case studies from Vietnam (e.g., furniture sourcing), Thailand (e.g., food sourcing), and Indonesia, providing tangible examples of successful diversification efforts.
Expert Speakers & Their Contributions
We sincerely thank our speakers for sharing their practical insights and valuable experience:
- Zacharie Blondeau, COO of Source of Asia, explained why ASEAN is a strategic choice for sourcing, highlighting its growth and competitiveness.
- Huong Tran, Head of Sourcing & Supply Chain Consulting at Source of Asia, walked participants through the key steps of sourcing in the region—from finding suppliers to managing logistics and quality.
- Jean-Charles Carton (Caisse d’Epargne CEPAC) and Patrick Buissiere-Paccard (Globallians) set the context, emphasizing the importance of resilient supply chains in today’s global environment.
Their collective expertise empowered participants with actionable knowledge to navigate and capitalize on the complexities of sourcing in the ASEAN region.
Continue the Conversation: Unlocking ASEAN’s Potential
We’re glad to have sparked meaningful discussions during the webinar, showing just how important ASEAN is for smart sourcing and business growth.
If you missed the session or want to learn more, feel free to contact us at hello@sourceofasia.com. Our team at Source of Asia is here to help you explore opportunities and build a stronger, more resilient supply chain in Southeast Asia.
