Thailand’s Incentives for US Automotive Manufacturers & Suppliers

SEMINAR:

Thailand’s Incentives for US Automotive Manufacturers and Suppliers

Join Us Thursday, June 6, 2024

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

Event Location:

BDO Detroit | 2600 W. Big Beaver Road, Suite 600, Troy, MI

HOSTED BY:

East West Associates LLC
BDO
Foley & Lardner LLP
Thailand Board of Investment

Thailand Incentives for U.S. Manufacturers and Suppliers:

About The SEMINAR

In an era where the global manufacturing landscape is rapidly evolving, automotive suppliers with operations in China face unique challenges and opportunities. As the US intensifies efforts to diversify supply chains away from China, Thailand emerges as a strategic alternative, offering compelling incentives and a skilled labor force.

We cordially invite you to a roundtable discussion (with viewpoints from a variety of SMEs) that will delve into how Thailand can serve as an integral part of your diversification strategy, potentially enhancing your company’s resilience and profitability.

This event promises to provide invaluable insights into the financial and operational benefits of relocating or expanding your manufacturing base to Thailand, amid the shifting dynamics of global trade and investment.

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 Corporate Income Tax holidays
      • Labor availability
      • Low labor costs

Manufacturing & Supply Chain Seminar Roundtable Discussion with Senior Executives


Who Should Attend?

Executive leaders from automotive-related manufacturing companies who are navigating manufacturing, sourcing, or profitability challenges in China or elsewhere, and are considering expansion or relocation to better serve global markets. This roundtable is a unique opportunity to gather critical insights and engage with seasoned professionals who have navigated the complexities of expanding into Thailand.


Topics of discussion will include:

      • Insights into the changing dynamics prompting U.S. companies to reassess their manufacturing strategies, driven by challenges such as U.S.-China trade tariffs, rising labor costs, and diminishing tax incentives in China.
      • Learn about the financial and operational incentives Thailand offers, including U.S. tariff exclusions, significant Corporate Income Tax (CIT) holidays, and access to skilled, cost-effective labor.
      • Key considerations before moving your manufacturing or supply base from China or other locations.
      • Explore the rich history and current opportunities within Thailand’s vehicles and auto parts manufacturing sector, setting the stage for future growth.
      • Learn about future infrastructure projects and investments in Thailand that promise to enhance manufacturing capacity and offer tangible benefits for companies looking to expand operations

This discussion will feature insights from senior executives and government officials, including experts from the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), Foley & Lardner LLP, BDO USA, and East West Associates (EWA). These speakers bring a wealth of experience and will share valuable perspectives on integrating Thailand into your manufacturing strategy.

The BOI is the governmental agency responsible for direction, oversight, &approval if foreign investment incentives to locate to Thailand. EWA and the Thai BOI have worked together for years. EWA supports U.S. companies with evaluating Thailand and other attractive venues, and with establishing operations and sourcing capabilities in Southeast Asia and elsewhere. Hear how one U.S.-based company save US$27.5 million by relocating from China to Thailand.

We look forward to your participation in and important and timely discussion on leveraging Thailand’s strategic advantages for your manufacturing and supply chain strategy.

Thailand Incentives for U.S. Manufacturers and Suppliers:

Speakers

Nanthapol Sudbanthad | Director, Thailand Board of Investment
    • Investment Consul of the Royal Thai Consulate-General of New York under the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the United States
    Mark Plum | Director, East West Associates
      • Former President Briggs & Stratton Asia (incl. Thailand)
      Steve Blyth | Director, East West Associates Thailand
        • Former senior executive for Volvo Cars
        Alex Bryant | President, East West Associates
          • Moderator
          Ashley Hetrick | Principal, Sourcing & Supply Chain Segment Leader, Management Consulting, BDO USA
            Ishan Shah | Partner, Tax & Legal, BDO in Thailand
              Vanessa Miller | Partner, Foley & Lardner LLP
                John Turlais | Of Counsel, Foley & Lardner LLP

                 

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                  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:

                            REGISTER TODAY!

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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

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                                              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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