Food & Beverage Industry Analyses for Thailand and Malaysia

The CEO of a multinational enterprise (MNE) in food & beverage industry wants to expand operations into two countries (Thailand – Malaysia). The CEO is asking your consulting team to conduct country analyses of the two countries in relation to the industry the MNE represents.

The following questions need to be addressed:
1.    What does this MNE need to know about the environment for doing business in those Thailand – Malaysia for the industry you selected?
2.    What do the short and long-term risks and opportunities do the two countries present to the industry to which this MNE belongs? 
3.    What advantages do the two countries (Thailand – Malaysia) have that make one or both candidates for trade and investment for that food & beverage industry?
4.    Which one of the two countries (Thailand – Malaysia) do you as consultants recommend to the CEO? 

Assignment
Your task is to conduct an analysis of the food & beverage industry and the two countries (Thailand – Malaysia) to help the CEO (your customer) decide whether the two countries (Thailand – Malaysia) have acceptable business environments for the specific industry. For example, in the food & beverage production as the industry, you will be analyzing the two countries (Thailand – Malaysia) from the point of view of the food & beverage industry as a whole. This is an industry (not company) and country analysis. DO NOT select a specific company for your analysis in this Report. 

This analysis is to focus on the major risks and opportunities the two environments present as indicated by your research and supported by conceptual frameworks. The analysis should be based on a thorough search of databases, journals and other sources (see below “Process” for recommended databases). The report should demonstrate your ability to collect and summarize necessary country data, work as a team, and present your major points in a clearly written paper.

Format
This assignment requires you to synthesize the key findings of your team analysis (Parts A, B, and C below) and to present your conclusions/recommendations (answers to the four questions above). 

Your report is to be organized as follows:

Executive Summary: One page that states conclusions and recommendations succinctly.

Introduction:  ½ page that states the major questions you will address in your report.

Analysis – Three Parts (2 to 2½ page each)

Part A - Do the countries have an acceptable economic, political, ethical, legal environment?
Part B - Do the countries have a suitable infrastructure? Is one location in a country more suitable for the industry than another?
Part C - What cultural environment will the staff of the MNE encounter in the workplace of the two countries?

Recommendation: Make a recommendation (“go/no go”).

Provide a table that summarizes the pros and cons developed in Parts A, B, and C for the two countries that will include Recommendation: Make a recommendation (“go/no go”).