Lightwave will again partner with the Optical Society of America (OSA) to sponsor a one-day event Sunday, Feb. 22, in Los Angeles, CA, on how to do business in Asia—the largest market for optical-networking revenue, according to analysts. Building on the success of last March's China Forum 2003, the 2004 program is expanded to offer attendees business intelligence about optical communications equipment and manufacturing opportunities in China, Japan, South Korea, and emerging markets such as India.
Asia Forum 2004 is the first forum designed to provide optical communications equipment vendors with the proprietary, first-hand information they need to successfully compete in China, Japan, and South Korea. The specific technology requirements and vastly different business cultures of each market will be addressed. Like the previous China Forum, the Asia Forum invites executives from Asia-based companies to discuss technology, standardisation, manufacturing, and cost requirements in each market. Asian business leaders, analysts, and executives from multinational companies already competing in these markets will share their views on carrier requirements, regulatory and legal hurdles, distribution channels, partnership strategies, and the business challenges they've faced in China, Japan, and South Korea. Venture capitalists will discuss how investment in China differs from investment in Japan and South Korea and the best strategies for penetrating Asian markets.
Asia Forum 2004: Doing Business in Asia will run on the first day of the Optical Fiber Communication Conference (OFC) from 9 am to 5:30 pm at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. The forum will be followed by a joint reception with the OSA's sixth annual Photonics & Telecommunications Executive Forum, a well-regarded two-day seminar to be held Sunday and Monday, Feb. 22–23, in tandem with OFC, the industry's largest trade show. For more details on Asia Forum 2004 and the OSA Executive Forum or to register, visit www.osa.org/partner/network.