On November 25, 2020, the US-ASEAN Business Council met with Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha as part of its first hybrid business mission to Thailand, in which engagements had both in-person and virtual aspects. Over the course of three days, the Council delegation of 39 companies was able to meet with the Prime Minister and key members of his cabinet to discuss critical issues including COVID-19 vaccine delivery, future energy resources of the kingdom, human capital development and digital inclusivity.

On October 21, the Council led its 6th consecutive delegation to the 42nd AMAF, taking part in the plenary session with all ten ASEAN Agriculture Ministers. The 42nd AMAF was Chaired by Cambodia Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, H.E. Veng Sakhon. The mission was co-led by Marc Mealy, Senior Vice President – Policy and Amb. Michael Michalak, Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director, as well as Chair of the Council’s Food and Agriculture Committee, Pushpanathan Sundram, Senior Policy Advisor, Government & Food Chain, Asia – Elanco Animal Health.

 

The Council met with Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen and his entire economic cabinet as part of its inaugural virtual business mission to Cambodia, which took place from September 21-25.

On August 26, the Council led its 21st consecutive delegation to the 52nd AEM, beginning with a consultative plenary session with all ten ASEAN Economic Ministers Co- Chaired by Vietnam Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh, and the U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Robert Lighthizer. The mission was co-led by Alexander Feldman, Chairman, President & CEO of the US-ASEAN Business Council, Chair of the Council’s ASEAN Committee, Simon Dale, who is also Managing Director-South East Asia, Adobe as well as Council Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director Ambassador Michael Michalak.

The US-ASEAN Business Council met with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc during its annual Vietnam Business Mission on March 4, 2020. Following the meeting, Prime Minister Phuc witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Council and the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) on strengthening industrial trade and cooperation.

On December 3-5, The US-ASEAN Business Council (US-ABC) brought a delegation of 46 American companies, the largest delegation to Indonesia since the US-ABC was founded in 1984 and tying the record for the largest delegation to any country, to meet President Joko Widodo and representatives of his new cabinet during its 2019 Indonesia Business Mission. The almost 100 executives participated in the three-day mission met with key Government leaders across 19 agencies including Governor of Jakarta. The Council also hosted a reception with The U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia, Ambassador Joseph R. Donovan Jr. President and CEO US-ABC, Alexander C. Feldman co-led the mission with US-ABC Indonesia Committee Chair LV Vaidyanathan, President Director, PT. Procter & Gamble Home Products Indonesia; US-ABC Indonesia Committee incoming Chair, Batara Sianturi, Chief Executive Officer of Citi Indonesia; and USABC Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director Ambassador Michael W. Michalak