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Are there any alternatives to China’s manufacturing dominance?

Countries in Southeast Asia are attracting foreign investments but it might be challenging for any single country to replace China.

Xiaodong Fang
5 min readAug 29, 2023

China has established a dominant position in global manufacturing over several decades, benefiting from its large population, vast infrastructure, skilled workforce, and favorable labor costs. However, shifting global economic dynamics and changing business strategies have opened doors for Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Cambodia to emerge as potential contenders in the manufacturing arena.

Photo by Christian Lue on Unsplash

As we explore the rise of these countries as alternative manufacturing hubs, it becomes evident that they pose a challenge to China’s once-unquestioned dominance in this sector. Several factors contribute to the rise of these countries as potential manufacturing markets.

Competitive labor costs

One of the primary drivers behind the shift towards Southeast Asia is the allure of cheaper labor costs. With wage levels significantly lower than those in China, industries reliant on labor-intensive processes are finding it increasingly attractive to set up shop in countries like Vietnam and Indonesia. This cost…

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Xiaodong Fang
Xiaodong Fang

Written by Xiaodong Fang

Political Scientist studied and worked at #Georgetown #IowaState #JamesMadison | Observing #Elections and #China

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