On May 30, Mr. Nanthapol Sudbanthad, Director of the BOI New York Office, was invited as a guest speaker for a roundtable meeting titled “International Business Roundtable: Business Opportunities in Thailand and Southeast Asia” in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The event, organized by East West Associates, in collaboration with Dorsey & Whitney, and Global Minnesota aimed to update investment measures and policies for U.S. clients interested in investing in Southeast Asia through the China+1 strategy. The roundtable featured 20 in-person attendees and 30 webinar participants from U.S. companies.

The event opened with remarks from Mr. Phil Hansen, President of Global Minnesota, followed by an introduction from Mr. Nate Long, Regional Trade Specialist at the Minnesota Trade Office, who discussed the office’s role in supporting companies looking to expand their business in ASEAN, focusing on Thailand, Viet Nam, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

During the discussion, Mr. Dave Townsend, Partner at Dorsey & Whitney, provided an update on the U.S. government’s policy on tariffs applied to China and the special 301 section, on GSP which have impacted many businesses.

Mr. Nanthapol provided updates on the total value of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Thailand. He highlighted recent U.S. investments in Thailand and covered various aspects of setting up an entity there, including the investment benefits and incentives offered by the Thai government. He also discussed Thailand’s new strategies for investment promotion aimed at fostering new investment, sustainable growth, and regional development.

During the event, Mr. Nanthapol provided comprehensive information during the Q&A sessions, including the financial and operational advantages of doing business in Thailand and focused on answering frequently asked questions regarding expanding to the country including intellectual property protection and regulatory environments.