Companies across the world are re-examining their sources for many kinds of goods because of supply issues linked to the COVID-19 pandemic.Countries in Southeast Asia and Latin America are becoming new go-to places for much-needed goods.Jayant Menon is a visiting representative with the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute’s Regional Economic Studies Program in Singapore.He told VOA that since the pandemic, China’s traditional role as the world’s factory will be reduced.American and European multinational companies will now be looking for parts, labor, and factory processes elsewhere.Menon said, “I think Southeast Asia will clearly be a beneficiary of all this reconfiguration taking place.”He said countries like Vietnam, and to a lesser degree Thailand and Malaysia, “have already seen gains from restructuring of supply chains.”Menon added that Vietnam has a lead because of its skilled workforce, pro-business reforms, and a network of free trade agreements.Electronics companies Samsung and Intel both operate in Vietnam, as do foreign-invested car factories.