One of the key consequences of various developments in the region is the ongoing rerouting of many of Asia’s supply chains, seen as only likely to continue in the current climate. This podcast, a featured session from GTR Asia 2019, will address the following:

• To what extent are firms restructuring their supply chains in order to avoid tariffs on Chinese products? How successful has the sourcing of alternative options proved?


• Have we already seen greater focus on sourcing goods from markets such as Bangladesh, Cambodia and Vietnam? How hard is it to repeat the scale of China and how can others compete?


• How significant are cost issues, particularly bearing in mind increasing wage structures in many markets? Are more manufacturers either looking for cheaper hubs or greater process automation? Are more adopting a ‘China Plus’ strategy?


• Are more companies now looking at reshoring or nearshoring to reduce supply chain disruption? How expensive and time-consuming is it to shift production in an uncertain climate? What role do financiers have to play?


• How important is clarity and transparency over where products and goods are sourced from in the current climate? What role can technology play in the process?

Moderator: Puja Kumar, Director, Head of Trade Risk Distribution APAC, Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Munish Kaushal, Area Finance Director & CFO, GSK Southeast Asia

Larry Sloven, President, Capstone International HK

Sanjay Tiwari, Head of Implementation, Maersk Trade Finance

Anupam Verma, Chief Executive, ICICI Bank Singapore

Malini Hariharan, Head of South Asia Markets, ICIS

Independent expert: Rebecca Harding, Chief Executive Officer, Coriolis Technologies; Author, ‘The Weaponization of Trade’