According to supplier interviews, local manufacturing or assembly is widely recognized as a growing trend in LMICs, and many companies have conducted in-house research on the topic. However, none have found it cost-effective to expand currently.
For example, one of the leading wheelchair manufacturers shared that they have received interest in overseas manufacturing from Ecuador, Venezuela, India, Viet Nam, and various African nations. Suppliers generally lack confidence in manufacturing in LMICs, citing insufficient infrastructure, financial support and policy backing from local governments. Additionally, the company noted that while overseas factories once included land ownership options, this is no longer available in many countries, further reducing financial incentives.
However, many have shown interest in technical transfer partnerships with local entities to set up assembly plants. While such case studies are currently limited among Chinese suppliers, the topic is worth further investigating for feasibility.
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