The 2004 ASEAN Glass conference was held in Malaysia last October and was hosted by the Glass Manufacturers' Association of Malaysia. Employees of GMAM member glassmaking companies were prominent among the nearly 300 delegates attracted to Penang for the 28th edition of the meeting. Glassmakers in the region are experiencing very differing fortunes. Investment is strong in Thailand and glassmakers there are finding it difficult to meet demand. Malaysia's glassmaking industry, though small is doing well too and the Philippines is looking at new investment. Things are tough for glassmakers in Indonesia, however, with some "experts" predicting the demise of glass because of competing materials. However, Ferdinand Tumpalan, the outgoing chairman of AFGM begs to differ, and points out why in this paper.
