When Commerce Flourishes

If change is the essence of our industry, that's only because it's the essence of the business world in general. And if recent history is any indication in this communications age, major change will be the order of things for years to come.

Not too long ago, Vietnam was an untouchable market for telecom carriers and vendors alike. The long, complex history between our two countries, of course, goes back quite a ways. Nonetheless, the way forward is one of increased trade, shared information and reduced barriers – I learned that from my former boss Senator John McCain, who worked tirelessly in the 1990s to open Vietnamese markets and thereby modernize the country.

Last week, representatives from government and industry in the United States and Vietnam met as part of a Bilateral Dialogue to discuss trade between the two nations.  As I've discussed in this space before, Vietnam is one of the world's true emerging telecom powerhouses and is currently the second-fastest growing telecom market in the world.  TIA Director of International and Government Affairs Mike Nunes accompanied several major member companies to represent the U.S. communications industry in Hanoi, a responsibility TIA staff takes very seriously. Just as in the case of previous Bilateral Dialogues with India, Korea and Brazil, TIA staff has worked diligently to lower barriers to entry for U.S. vendors, to eliminate unfair protectionist standards and, most of all, to prepare our members to enter a foreign market with the greatest possible odds of success.

That's why TIA is out front, providing market intelligence for developing markets like Vietnam. Our Global Market Insights report on this southeast Asian nation contains a plethora of important political and economic facts executives need to make the final call on whether to jump into Vietnam or not.  And it's not just the big companies that benefit.  Even our smallest members can benefit from partnerships and new opportunities that are created when larger members decide to invest.  They will make those investments when the elements of change are better manageable, when even the most unpredictable market forces are at least identifiable. 

If ever there was a time for U.S. vendors to look beyond our borders, it is now, with such rapid change all around.  And I believe TIA members have done just that.  On our end, we're working to advocate change in the global marketplace, and to document that change for our members at home.

Thank you,
Grant Seiffert
President,
TIA