For this issue of the Portal, we are privileged to hear first-hand from several members who live and work in East Asia. Some of the challenges they face in the course of their business will sound familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. Government regulations and customs can be complex, like everywhere, but are also often poorly defined and open to interpretation by every individual agent. The rules can even apply differently at different ports in the same city. Transportation infrastructure is rapidly modernizing in many countries, yet not all modes are open to household goods shipments.

The Covid-19 pandemic affected every country on the map, but the unique situations created by China’s “Zero Covid” policy and its aftermath have added a new level of obstacles and complexity to the entire mobility sector there. One thing that remains constant throughout these contributions, though, is the resourcefulness of our members. When business slows or becomes outrageously difficult, or workers become hard to find, they dig in and find ways to overcome every obstacle. We’ve found that to be true of successful movers everywhere in the world, but in the pages to follow, we also see find new insights and innovative solutions to overcome the unique demands found in East Asia.