Adapting to the New Normal: Strategies for Success in Southeast Asia’s Evolving Manufacturing Sector
Exploring How Consumers, Businesses, and Governments are Adapting to the Dynamic Manufacturing Sector of Southeast Asia Amid Rising Tariffs and Economic Uncertainty.
Description
Southeast Asia is not only a dynamic and rapidly growing market but also a manufacturing factory of the world, driven by increasing e-commerce adoption, a rising middle class, and evolving consumer preferences. However, global trade disruptions, tariffs, and economic uncertainty are reshaping the landscape. This event will bring together industry experts, business leaders and researchers to explore how consumers, businesses, and governments are adapting to these challenges. Discussions will focus on strategies for navigating economic shifts, understanding the impact of tariffs, and responding to changing supply chain. Attendees will gain actionable insights into how to thrive in Southeast Asia’s evolving manufacturing sector, from adapting business models to leveraging new opportunities in the region’s vibrant manufacturing landscape.
Background
Southeast Asia stands at a pivotal juncture in its manufacturing evolution. Once celebrated as the "factory of the world," the region now grapples with a confluence of challenges that threaten its industrial momentum. The recent imposition of substantial U.S. tariffs on imports from countries like Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam—some soaring as high as 3,521%—has disrupted established tr…
Date: 2025-05-01
Time (ET): 7:00 PM EDT, May 1, 2025
Time (Local): 11:00 PM UTC, May 1, 2025
Agenda:
- Speaker Welcome Room - 17 : 30
- Guided Discussion - 18 : 00
- General Discussion - 18 : 40
- Interactive Q&A - 18 : 50
Location: online
Speakers
Charles Ormiston
Advisory and Founding Partner , Bain & Company Southeast Asia
Dr Lili Ing
East Asia (ERIA) Secretary General of the International Economic Association (IEA), Senior Economist at the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN
Dina Chhorn
Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI), Centre Director of Development Economics and Trade (CDET)
Shay Wester
Director of Asian Economic Affairs and Outreach , Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI)
Dr. Jayant Menon
Visiting Senior Fellow, ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute
Guided Questions
Dr Lili Ing
In your co-edited volume "Robots and AI: A New Economic Era," you explore the implications of automation on economies. Considering the recent shifts in global trade dynamics and rising tariffs, how do you envision Southeast Asian manufacturing sectors adapting to increased automation while maintaining competitiveness in the evolving global market?
Dina Chhorn
In your study "Export Diversification, Specialisation and Inequality," you analyze the effects of trade patterns on income inequality. Considering Southeast Asia's current manufacturing shifts amid rising tariffs and economic uncertainty, what strategies should governments and businesses adopt to promote inclusive growth while maintaining competitiveness?
Shay Wester
In your analysis "Balancing Act: Assessing China’s Growing Economic Influence in ASEAN," you discuss the challenges ASEAN faces due to increased economic dependence on China. Considering the current shifts in global manufacturing and trade dynamics, how can ASEAN countries, particularly those with emerging manufacturing sectors, strategically diversify their economic partnerships to enhance resilience without compromising growth?
Charles Ormiston
In your "Southeast Asia Outlook 2024–34," you highlight the region's potential to surpass China's GDP growth and FDI. Considering the evolving global trade dynamics and rising protectionism, what specific policy interventions should Southeast Asian governments prioritize to sustain this projected growth trajectory?
Dr. Jayant Menon
In your extensive analysis of regional economic integration, how do you assess the resilience of Southeast Asia's manufacturing sector to external shocks like the US-China trade tensions and the COVID-19 pandemic, and what policy measures would you recommend to enhance this resilience?