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:

WATCH VIDEO

Mitigating Fraud and Corruption in China Operations:

Presentation

Download Presentation

Timely Topics To Drive Growth.

Sign up for our webinars.

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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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!

Timely Topics To Drive Growth.

Sign up for our webinars.

OUR CLIENTS

accessdata

Adler Pelzer Group

Accuride

aseptia

alliance

amercable

americhem

anisa

calient

corning

chemco

climate-master

curtiss-wright

federal-signal

greenheck

flexco

gore

hilite

HJ-Baker

Icee

mascoat

merichem

micromeritics

nanotex

oerlikon

plasticolors

rudolf-group

silfex

sweco

tile-shop

tedia

titeflex

weber

Establishing Manufacturing & Sourcing in Vietnam

Webinar:

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

Download 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

Watch Video

Establishing Manufacturing & Sourcing in Thailand

Webinar:

Establishing Manufacturing & Sourcing in Thailand

About The Webinar

East West Associates Roundtable with Senior Executives

Who Should Watch?

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

Why Should You Watch?
For ideas and guidance to help navigate new business manufacturing and supply chain in Thailand.

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

Thailand has a significant manufacturing base and available skilled labor. For example, in 2021 Thailand became the largest motor vehicle-producing country in Asia Pacific, producing 1.9M vehicles.

East West Associates’ speakers will answer questions, including:

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

Our speakers briefly present two recent case studies:

- How an Ohio-based industrial company successfully established a Thai contract manufacturer relationship
- Key experiences of a Michigan-based electronics manufacturer when relocating its China-based manufacturing to Thailand

Establishing Manufacturing & Sourcing in Thailand

Speakers

Mark Plum | Director, East West Associates

Former President of Briggs & Stratton Asia (NYSE: BGG)
VP Sales & Marketing, American Standard Thailand & American Standard China

Steve Blyth | Nederman Corporation (Thailand)

Former Managing Director of Southeast Asia, Nederman Corporation (Thailand)
Former Sales & Commercial Director, Volvo Cars (Thailand) Ltd.
Currently based in Bangkok, Thailand

Establishing Manufacturing & Sourcing in Thailand

VIEW WEBINAR

Establishing Manufacturing & Sourcing in Thailand

PRESENTATION

DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION

Timely Topics To Drive Growth.

Sign up for our webinars.

OUR CLIENTS

accessdata

Adler Pelzer Group

Accuride

aseptia

alliance

amercable

americhem

anisa

calient

corning

chemco

climate-master

curtiss-wright

federal-signal

greenheck

flexco

gore

hilite

HJ-Baker

Icee

mascoat

merichem

micromeritics

nanotex

oerlikon

plasticolors

rudolf-group

silfex

sweco

tile-shop

tedia

titeflex

weber

Major Investments In Thailand Focus on Electronic Vehicle Manufacturing

The global shift to electric and sustainable vehicles is set to bring about incredible transformation for the planet and its transportation needs, and Thailand is among those leading this charge.

Thailand strives to be a global player in electric and sustainable vehicles.

The Thai government strives to become one of the largest world players in Electric Vehicles by 2030, accounting for 30% of their domestic vehicle production. Through subsidized production, import tax reductions, and other incentives, the country is creating a supportive environment for manufacturers to invest in EV production.

The Thai government started subsidizing Electronic Vehicle manufacturing in September of 2022 – granting subsidies for promoting the use of EVs as well as incentives for excise, road, and import tax reduction, production of batteries, and the establishment of charging facilities.

Thailand has an established and robust EV supply chain, making it a prime location for global manufacturers. As demand for EVs increases, Thailand is poised to be a competitive marketplace for cutting-edge technology focused on sustainability. With rising investments in Thailand coming from a wide range of local conglomerates, automobile manufacturers are positioning themselves for a strong foothold in the EV industry. Not only are they advancing the technological capabilities of their products but also taking into account the unique challenges posed by a traditional reliance on combustion engines.

Thailand is poised to be a competitive marketplace for cutting-edge technology focused on sustainability.

Thailand’s Commitment to Electric Vehicle Manufacturing

Thailand has recently made a big commitment to the production of electric vehicles (EVs), and the Thailand Board of Investment is playing a key role in promoting this initiative and working hard to create an environment that is attractive to investors and EV manufacturers alike. This effort helped create a robust supply chain for EVs in Thailand, that can handle the demands of an industry set for significant growth.

Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) is working to promote this initiative and attract investors and manufacturers to the country. The BOI has been working with major global automotive companies from China, Japan, and Europe to centralize EV production and strengthen Thailand’s position as an EV hub in the region. By promoting Thailand’s manufacturing capabilities, the BOI is gearing up to attract billions of dollars in investment, creating jobs, and helping the country to meet its sustainable development goals. They place sustainability as top-of-mind and wish to be seen as competitive in the marketplace creating cutting-edge technology to curb carbon emissions and improve fuel efficiency.

As demand for EV sales goes up and the cost to the end-user continues to go down, the Thai government hopes subsidies to manufacturers will drive more interest in centralizing EV production. There is currently a strong automotive existing ecosystem with support from Chinese, Japanese, and European EV car makers already in place, making it a safe place to invest and bet on Thailand being a central hub for EV production for years to come.

Thailand has a clear vision for the future of their automotive industry, and the government’s initiatives in supporting the production of EVs demonstrate their commitment to sustainable development. The initiatives that the government is undertaking make Thailand an attractive destination for global players and improve the country’s competitiveness in the EV space. They are looking to become a one-stop service facilitator to EV companies that want to set their regional headquarters in Thailand.

The BOI’s approach towards increasing EV usage in Thailand also takes into account supply chain and infrastructure aspects aimed to make EVs accessible and more practical across the country.

Recently, the BOI just approved a tax holiday package of three to five years for charging service providers. While Bangkok enjoys more than half of the country’s total charging stations, this tax holiday will offset that imbalance and attract investments from all corners of the country, leading to an extensive and robust infrastructure for charging EVs across Thailand and opportunities for more investments to come.

As Thailand continues to attract major global players, it is exciting to see the country’s role in the EV market increase. With the growing popularity of eco-friendly vehicles, Thailand is well on its way to turning this vision into a reality and becoming a key player in the global EV industry. Industries need more governments actively looking to increase access to EVs, and Thailand is showing us how that can be done.

Download Article PDF

Timely Topics To Drive Growth.

Sign up for our webinars.

« Older Entries

Next Entries »