Thailand Incentives for U.S. Manufacturers

SEMINAR:

Thailand Incentives for U.S. Manufacturers

Thailand Incentives for U.S. Manufacturers:

About The SEMINAR

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

Manufacturing & Supply Chain Seminar Roundtable Discussion with Senior Executives


Who Should Attend?

Executives of U.S. manufacturing companies:

        • Who face manufacturing, sourcing, or profit challenges in China
        • Who might benefit from expanding out of China to serve European and U.S. markets
        • In these industries: Automotive. Electronics. Medical devices & Medical technology. Automated manufacturing systems. Agribusinesses.

Why Companies Like Yours Are Attending

U.S. manufacturers are diversifying locations, especially beyond China. Thai government officials, along with U.S. legal and business executives with Thailand experience, will present why Thailand is becoming so attractive. The discussion, case histories, and answers to questions from fellow attendees will provide you with information and data to understand why companies land in Thailand as part of their manufacturing & supply chain strategy.


Speakers will aslo answer registrants’ questions, including:

    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?
Thailand Incentives for U.S. Manufacturers:

Speakers

Nanthapol Sudbanthad | Director, Thailand Board of Investment
    • Investment Incentives in Thailand
    Dave Townsend | Partner, Dorsey & Whitney LLP
      • Government Solutions and Investigations Practice Group.
      Alex Bryant | President, East West Associates
        • Moderator
        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)
            Thailand Incentives for U.S. Manufacturers:

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            Mitigating Fraud & Corruption in China Operations

            WEBINAR:

            Mitigating Fraud & Corruption in China Operations:

            What are the best Corrective Actions and How can we address on-going risk?

            Mitigating Fraud and Corruption in China Operations:

            About The WEBINAR


            Who Should Attend?

            Executives of U.S. manufacturing companies:

                  • U.S. & European executives with China-based operations, looking to prevent or remedy instances of fraud and corruption.

            Why Companies Like Yours Are Attending

            You’ll hear guidance to assess and address fraud and corruption that may exist right now within your China operations.  The financial and reputational risks to your people and your brand in China would not be limited locally, but could easily expand, damaging your reputation globally.


            Why Is This Webinar Important NOw?

              • Recently publicized risks to business travelers to China. 
              • A new, unpredictable business environment there. 
              • U.S./China political tensions.  Years of China COVID restrictions. 

            All these have made normal, prudent oversight of China operations difficult, to say the least.  Assessing your China operations and demonstrating support to your people there – in person – is important.  Not just to manage smooth and efficient operations, but also to identify and minimize instances of fraud and corruption.

            Association of Certified Fraud Examiners’ international research indicates that organizations lose 5% of revenue to fraud each year, and 84% of fraudsters display at least one behavioral red flag.  But frequent in-person travel to China remains a challenge. There you are, operating in China… with limited oversight. What could go wrong?

            In our webinar, seasoned executives with real-life manufacturing experience in China – and a skilled professional with deep forensic expertise in China – talk about how to mitigate risk in your China operations.

            Speakers answer registrants’ questions, including:

              1. How different is China today from the business-friendly environment pre-Covid?
              2. What are your forensic people in China actually finding?
              3. How well-founded are the recently publicized risks of travelling to China to oversee our operations?
              4. Are there “red flags” we can look for to infer fraud or corruption in our China operations without actually going there?
              5. What are the risks of doing nothing right now?  Is it possible recent geopolitical tensions will improve soon and I can resume visiting China more often?
              6. What are the risks of doing nothing right now?  Is it possible U.S. China relations will improve soon and I can resume visiting China more often?
              7. What can we do now if we suspect fraud, corruption or IP theft in our China operations?
              8. Does management and employee Fraud & Corruption Training really help?
              9. How effective is a formal whistleblower program?  Has it changed since Covid?
              10. I’ve got a guy who’s a real rainmaker for us in China, but I’m not absolutely sure about his integrity? What should I do?
              11. If I find a problem in China, is my degree of risk limited to within China?
              12. If I decide to sell my China operation and move production elsewhere, how concerned about this topic do I need to be?
              13. What is the real-life challenges when implementing a new operational strategy or conducting forensic accounting after the ‘dust has settled, and any unhealthy employees terminated?
              14. Can you describe some real-life case studies of fraud& corruption in China that you can share?
            Mitigating Fraud and Corruption in China Operations:

            Speakers

            DR. TIM KLATTE | Partner, GRANT THORNTON, CERTIFIED FRAUD EXAMINER (CFE), CERTIFIED FORENSIC INTERVIEWER (CFI)
              • Leader of the Forensic Advisory Practice in Shanghai
              • Advises clients on complicated compliance investigations and effective ethics programs 
              Warren Clark | Partner, Grant Thornton, Audit Partner and LEader of National China Business Group
                • Specialized in auditing and U.S. based companies with operations in China, foreign private issuers, and  companies going public in the U.S.
                • Lived and worked in greater China for more than 18 years
                LI XIAO | OPERATIONS MANAGER, EAST WEST ASSOCIATES, CHINA
                  • Former China General Manager for US construction materials manufacturer

                  • Former China Director hired to turnaround business and manufacturing plants for US electric motor manufacturer
                  Dan McLeod | Executive Advisor, East West Associates
                    • Former Director Asia Pacific Operations. Ashland Specialty Ingredients (Shanghai)
                    • Former Director of Manufacturing & Supply Chain for Hercules specialty chemicals
                    Mitigating Fraud and Corruption in China Operations:

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                    Mitigating Fraud and Corruption in China Operations:

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                    A Role for Thailand in Your China +1 Strategy?

                    SEMINAR:

                    A Role for Thailand in Your China +1 Strategy?

                    A Role for Thailand in Your China +1 Strategy

                    About The SEMINAR

                    Meet Senior Thailand Government Officials who will Outline Thailand’s Investment Opportunities.

                    Thursday, April 11, 2024

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

                    Event Location:

                    777 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI, 53202-5306

                    HOSTED BY:

                    East West Associates
                    Foley & Lardner
                    Thailand Board of Investment

                    Manufacturing & Supply Chain Seminar Roundtable Discussion with Senior Executives


                    Who Should Attend?

                    Executives of U.S. manufacturing companies:

                          • Who face manufacturing, contract manufacturing or sourcing challenges in China
                          • Are expanding Asian Supply Chain & Manufacturing to better serve European and U.S. markets
                          • That include Automotive; Electronics; Industrial; Medical devices & Medical technology; Automated manufacturing systems; companies in the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy

                    Why Companies Like Yours Are Attending

                    U.S. companies with China manufacturing or sourcing are diversifying beyond China. Thailand is becoming the country of choice for many of them. This roundtable discussion will provide you with useful information to understand why companies look to Thailand as part of their global manufacturing & supply chain strategy.

                    A Role for Thailand in Your China +1 Strategy

                    Speakers

                    Welcoming Partner and Seminar Moderator
                      DAVID SIMON | Partner, Washington, D.C./Milwaukee
                      • Welcoming Foley & Lardner Partner
                        Alex Bryant
                        Alex Bryant | President, East West Associates
                        • Moderator
                          Roundtable Speakers
                            Nanthapol Sudbanthad | Director, Thailand BOI New York Office
                              • The Thai Board of Investment [BOI] is the governmental agency responsible for direction, oversight and approval of foreign investment incentives to locate to Thailand.

                              Vanessa-Miller-Foley-Lardner
                              Vanessa Miller | Partner, Foley & Lardner Detroit Office
                                • The international law firm of Foley & Lardner is a preeminent law firm that stands at the nexus of the Manufacturing, Energy, Health Care & Life Sciences, and Innovative Technology Sectors. Foley’s 1,100 lawyers across 25 offices worldwide partner on the full range of engagements, from corporate counsel to intellectual property work and litigation support, providing clients with a one-team solution to all their needs.
                                Mark Plum
                                Mark Plum | Director, East West Associates
                                  • East West Associates (EWA) and the Thai BOI have worked together for a number of years. EWA supports U.S. companies with evaluating Thailand and other attractive countries and establishing operations and sourcing capabilities in those countries.
                                  John Turlais-Foley-Lardner
                                  John Turlais | Of Counsel, Foley & Lardner Milwaukee Office
                                    • The international law firm of Foley & Lardner is a preeminent law firm that stands at the nexus of the Manufacturing, Energy, Health Care & Life Sciences, and Innovative Technology Sectors. Foley’s 1,100 lawyers across 25 offices worldwide partner on the full range of engagements, from corporate counsel to intellectual property work and litigation support, providing clients with a one-team solution to all their needs.

                                    Webinar agenda

                                    • Brief Introduction and description of each speaker’s firm.
                                    • Summary of current state of China and the China +1 Strategy, and its global effects on US-based companies.
                                    • Current state of Thailand. Thai BOI will discuss the business environment in Thailand, their Target Industries rationale, and Thailand’s foreign company incentives.
                                    • Case Study of Wisconsin-based company who established a Thailand manufacturing operation and received 29M USD of financial investment incentives.
                                    • Extensive Q&A.

                                    Speakers will aslo answer registrants’ questions, including:

                                      1. How does the current situation in China affect western companies? What are specific challenges companies face in addition to U.S./China tariffs?
                                      2. What are the effects of current conditions on companies that produce in China and sell the majority of their products within China? Conversely, what are the effects on companies that produce in China and export the majority of their products outside of China?
                                      3. What strategies are companies employing to address the current China situation? How have these strategies affected countries in Southeast Asia?
                                      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: electronic manufacturers). How does the concept of local content/local certificate of origin affect these companies?
                                      5. How do China’s and Thailand’s costs compare? Skilled labor costs? Labor availability? Corporate Income Tax? Land costs? Land availability? Utility costs? Inflation? Lease rates? Building costs?
                                      6. 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)?
                                      7. If a company leaves China, what are the challenges of closing their China manufacturing plant? What are closure considerations like severance and personnel? How does a company protect Intellectual property (IP) and physical property? What about relationships with customers, vendors, Labor Bureau, PSB, et. al.? Disposition of equipment? Duties on equipment relocated out of China?
                                      8. What financial & operational incentives does the Thailand government provide U.S. companies to establish operations on leased or owned land?
                                    A Role for Thailand in Your China +1 Strategy

                                    REGISTER TODAY!

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                                    Establishing Manufacturing & Sourcing in Poland.: The Why & The How

                                    Webinar:

                                    Establishing Manufacturing & Sourcing in Poland:
                                    The Why & The How

                                    Establishing Manufacturing & Sourcing in Poland

                                    About The Webinar

                                    East West Associates Roundtable with Senior Executives


                                    Who Should Watch?

                                    Executives of US companies:

                                        • Expanding Supply Chain & Manufacturing to better service European customer base
                                        • Facing manufacturing, contract manufacturing or sourcing challenges in China

                                    US companies are establishing or relocating to Poland for a number of reasons, not the least is diversification from China. Poland has become a preferred destination as China labor costs and geopolitical concerns increase, and as US/China tariffs remain.

                                    Poland is the fifth largest manufacturing country within the EU and contributes 22.4% of the country’s GDP. Germany is the largest importer of Polish products, followed by the rest of Western Europe.

                                    The leading Polish industrial sectors are automotive, aviation, pharmaceuticals, household appliances, metal products, electrical equipment, electronics, chemical products, and rubber & plastic. As a result, Poland has a large supply chain base of raw materials and component products servicing these manufacturing operations.

                                    East West Associates’ speakers addressed these questions, including:

                                      • Why are companies diversifying from China and leveraging Poland’s Supply Chain & Manufacturing capabilities?
                                      • How are US companies developing sourcing, contract manufacturing & manufacturing capabilities in Poland?
                                      • What industry sectors are finding sourcing & manufacturing success in Poland?
                                      • How to identify & qualify Polish suppliers?
                                      • How to conduct Site Selection in Poland to establish Polish manufacturing site?
                                      • What financial & operational incentives does the Polish government provide to US companies to establish operations on leased or owned facilities?
                                      • How should our investment strategy be designed to best meet the Polish Investment goals?
                                      • Can you summarize the Polish/US trade relations and tariff policies?
                                      • What is the availability & quality of local labor (production & engineering talent)?

                                    Our speakers presented two recent case studies:

                                      • EWA & a PA-based manufacturing client identifying and qualifying Polish suppliers
                                      • EWA & a MN-based manufacturing client relocating their European operations from Spain to Poland
                                    Establishing Manufacturing & Sourcing in Poland

                                    Speakers

                                    Mike Jacobs | Chief Operating Officer, Weber, Inc.
                                    • Responsible for end to end product life cycle, including product management, research & development and end-to-end supply chain and operations functions (Strategic Sourcing, Demand & Supply Planning (ES&OP), Global Manufacturing, Logistics & Distribution and Quality)
                                    • Former Vice President, Logistics & Material for Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK)
                                    • Director, Global Sourcing – Fabricated Components for Schneider Electric 
                                    Dariusz Pielach | Director, Central Eastern Europe
                                    • EWA Director of Poland/Central Eastern Europe
                                    • Resides in Warsaw, Poland
                                    • Former Project Manager/Director and Interim Manager for Western multinationals 
                                    • Primary focus in strategic and operational procurement, sourcing, and project management 
                                    Mark Plum | Director, East West Associates
                                    • Former President of Briggs & Stratton Asia (NYSE: BGG)
                                    • VP Sales & Marketing, American Standard Thailand & American Standard China
                                      Establishing Manufacturing & Sourcing in Poland

                                      VIEW WEBINAR

                                      Establishing Manufacturing & Sourcing in Poland

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                                      Establishing Manufacturing & Sourcing in Vietnam

                                      Webinar:

                                      Establishing Manufacturing & Sourcing in Vietnam

                                      Establishing Manufacturing & Sourcing in Vietnam

                                      About The Webinar


                                      Who Should Watch?

                                      Executives of US companies who are facing manufacturing, contract manufacturing or sourcing challenges in China or other countries

                                      Executives of US companies expanding Southeast Asian operational and supply chain capabilities to better service customers


                                      US companies are establishing or relocating to Vietnam for a number of reasons, not the least is diversification from China. Vietnam has become a preferred destination as China labor costs and geopolitical concerns increase, and as US/China tariffs remain.

                                      Vietnam has a significant manufacturing base, which was traditionally focused on textiles, apparel, and furniture.

                                      Vietnam has increased their manufacturing capabilities and are now major producers of consumer electronics, telecom equipment, machinery and auto parts. Samsung produces a third of their total output in Vietnam and is the country’s largest exporter.

                                      East West Associates’ speakers addressed these questions, including:

                                        • Why – and How – are US companies developing manufacturing, contract manufacturing & sourcing capabilities in Vietnam?
                                        • What industry sectors are finding sourcing & manufacturing success in Vietnam?
                                        • What are the advantages of Vietnam as compared to the other ASEAN Countries?
                                        • What financial & operational incentives does the Vietnamese government provide to US companies to establish operations on leased or owned facilities?
                                        • How should our investment strategy be designed to best meet the Vietnamese Investment goals?
                                        • How does Vietnam compare to China & Thailand? Lease rates? Building costs? What are the relative advantages of Vietnamese Business Park options?
                                        • Can you summarize the Vietnamese/US trade relations and tariff policies?

                                      Our speakers briefly presented two recent case studies:

                                        • How a Minnesota-based manufacturing client established a Vietnamese contract manufacturing arrangement to diversify from China and service the US market
                                        • Key experiences of a Michigan-based automotive manufacturing plant for an operational and supply chain audit
                                      Establishing Manufacturing & Sourcing in Vietnam

                                      Speakers

                                      Mark Plum | Director, East West Associates
                                      • Former President of Briggs & Stratton Asia (NYSE: BGG)
                                      • VP Sales & Marketing, American Standard Thailand & American Standard China
                                        Establishing Manufacturing & Sourcing in Vietnam

                                        Presentation

                                        Jacob Miller | Director, East West Associates (Vietnam)
                                        • Former Operations Engineer for Caterpillar
                                        • Focus in Supply Chain development, procrurement process improvements and facility establishment
                                        • Currently based in Ho Chi Minh
                                        Establishing Manufacturing & Sourcing in Vietnam

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