Many U.S. companies are relocating manufacturing and sourcing to Thailand. Senior operational executives who’ve lived in Thailand, and Thailand Board of Investment officials will explain why, including:

• • U.S. tariff exclusion
  • 8-10 year C.I.T. holiday
  • Labor availability
  • Low labor costs

Join Us Thursday, May 30, 2024

Registration & Breakfast: 8AM CDT
Conference: 8:30AM – 10:30AM CDT

Event Location:

Dorsey & Whitney: 50 South 6th St., Minneapolis, MN  P: 612-340-2600

HOSTED BY:

Dorsey + Whitney LLP
Build What Matters in Minnesota
East West Associates LLC
Global Minnesota

Speakers will aslo answer registrants’ questions, including:

1. 1. What are the recent effects of conditions on companies that produce in China and sell the majority of their productswithin China? Conversely, what are the effects on companies that produce in China and export the majority of their products outside of China?
   2. What strategies are companies employing to address the current China situation? How have these strategies affected countries in Southeast Asia?
   3. How do China’s and Thailand’s costs compare? Skilled labor costs? Labor availability? CIT? Land? Utility costs? Inflation? Lease rates? Building costs? Tariffs?
   4. Some companies may wish to relocate or establish a facility outside of China but continue to source their products (or components) from China (example: automotive parts and electronics manufacturers). How does the concept of “local content/local certificate of origin” affect this strategy?
   5. Could you talk about site selection factors in Thailand? Land; build to suit; lease existing facility, etc. Does Thailand allow for 100 % ownership by U.S. companies (including land)?
   6. For companies developing Thai suppliers of raw materials or component parts, what are the main challenges to identifying and qualifying Thai suppliers?  Transitioning from Chinese to Thai suppliers?
   7. What has been your experience transferring technology from China to Thailand?
   8. In addition to automotive and electronic suppliers, what other industry sectors does Thailand have a large number of manufacturers & suppliers?
   9. If a company relocates from China to Thailand, what are the challenges of closing their China manufacturing plant? Can you comment on closure considerations like severance and personnel? How does a company protect intellectual property and physical property? What about relationships with customers vendors, Labor Bureau, PSB, et. al.? Disposition of equipment? Duties on equipment relocated out of China to Thailand?
   10. What financial & operational incentives does the Thailand government provide U.S. companies to establish operations on leased or owned land?

Chad Gauger | Vice President and General Manager, Scoular, Former Cargill Managing Director-Asia South (incl. Thailand)

• • Operational Considerations in Thailand

Mark Plum | Director, East West Associates

• • Former President Briggs & Stratton Asia (incl. Thailand)

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