Rutgers MBA Delegation Explores Vietnam Market with ASEAN Insights from Dezan Shira & Associates

A dozen executives from Rutgers School of Business–Camden’s MBA program commenced their exploration of the Vietnamese market with a comprehensive briefing on ASEAN integration into global supply chains, led by Dezan Shira & Associates’ ASEAN Director, Marco Förster.

During the session, Förster provided the group, who are aspiring to deepen their understanding of the world’s most dynamic markets, with an in-depth mind map that offered insights into macroeconomic trends, trade relationships, and evolving parameters amidst the shifting geopolitical landscape.

“We live in a VUCA world—volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. Many corporates that we helped set up manufacturing operations in China 30 years ago are now relocating out of necessity rather than opportunity,” Förster said, highlighting the pressures facing global businesses today.

In the second part of the presentation, Förster outlined the critical factors in selecting a new investment destination in Asia, emphasizing the strategic role of Dezan Shira’s Business Intelligence team, which recently launched the updated Asia Manufacturing Index (AMI) 2025, comparing 11 countries across the region.

The participants showed particular interest in the comparative rise of India versus China and Vietnam’s plans for growing sustainably, in light of its unique ability to capitalize on geopolitical tensions. This topic led to a lively discussion during the Q&A session.

Marco was joined by Tien Nguyen, Associate of Business Intelligence, and regional marketing lead for Vietnam and Singapore, Julia Goeb, who actively engaged with the delegates throughout the event.

We extend our gratitude to Professor Rakesh Sambharya for bringing the students all the way from New Jersey to Ho Chi Minh City and to Austral Education Group for this unique opportunity.

Need help navigating investments in Asia?

Our team is here to help you make informed decisions. Check out the AMI 2025 here: Asia Manufacturing Index.