Asia Forum 2004: Doing business in the world's largest market

Lightwave will again partner with the Optical Society of America (OSA) to sponsor a one-day event Sunday, Feb. 22, in Los Angeles on how to do business in Asia, which analysts say remains the world's largest market for optical-networking revenue. Building on the success of last March's China Forum 2003, the 2004 Asia Forum 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 conference designed to provide optical communications equipment vendors with the first-hand information they need to successfully compete in China, Japan, and South Korea. Specific technology requirements and the vastly different business cultures of each country will be addressed.

Like the previous China Forum, the Asia Forum invites executives from Asia-based companies to discuss technology, standardization, manufacturing, and cost requirements in each country. 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 have 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 6th Annual Photonics & Telecommunications Executive Forum, a well-regarded two-day seminar that will be held Sunday and Monday, Feb. 22-23, in tandem with OFC, the industry's largest trade show. For more details or to register for Asia Forum 2004 and the OSA Executive Forum, visit www.osa.org/partner/network.