US-ASEAN Business Council

Farewell Luncheon in Honor of Ambassador Mai Sayavongs

On November 1, the US-ASEAN Business Council hosted a farewell luncheon in Washington, D.C. in honor of H.E. Mai Sayavongs, the Ambassador of the Lao PDR to the United States, who will end his three-year term in the United States at the end of 2018. The Council and its members thanked Ambassador Mai for being a strong and steadfast advocate for the Lao-U.S. bilateral relationship, and wished him well on his return home.

2018 Malaysia Business Mission

2018 Malaysia Business Mission - On October 18, the US-ASEAN Business Council met with Malaysia's 4th and 7th Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, as part of its 2018 Malaysia Business Mission. A delegation of 28 companies was led by the Chair of the Council's Malaysia Committee, Ramzi Toubassy, CEO Amlife Insurance Berhad, Alexander C. Feldman, President and CEO of the US-ASEAN Business Council; and Ambassador Michael W. Michalak, Council Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director

The US-ASEAN Business Council Receives Certificate of Merit from H.E. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of Vietnam

On October 4, the Government of Vietnam organized a conference in Hanoi to review the last 30 years of FDI in Vietnam and highlight new strategies and policies looking forward. During this conference, the US-ASEAN Business Council was honored and awarded with a Certificate of Merit by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc for its contributions to FDI in Vietnam and the country’s overall economic development and international integration. The Council was represented by Mr. Vu Tu Thanh, Deputy Regional Managing Director & Vietnam Senior Representative, and Ms. Bui Kim Thuy, Vietnam Country Representative.

Dinner in Honor of H.E Dr. Mahathir Mohamad Prime Minister of Malaysia

On September 27th, the US-ASEAN Business Council held a dinner in Honor of Malaysia’s 4th and 7th Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly at the St. Regis Hotel in New York City. Over 100 Council members and friends joined Acting Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Patrick Murphy to hear Prime Minister Mahathir during his first visit to the United States since his election in May.

Dinner Dialogue and Cyber Threat Briefing with ASEAN Cyber Ministers and Senior Officials, September 19, 2018

On September 19, the Council, BSA | The Software Alliance, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce co-hosted a dinner dialogue and a cyber security briefing, bringing together leaders of the American business community and ASEAN Ministers and senior officials responsible for cybersecurity, participating in the Singapore International Cyber Week 2018.

2018 Business Mission to the ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting (AEM), August 30-September 1

The US-ASEAN Business Council concluded its business mission to the 50th ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) Meeting in Singapore, with 17 U.S. companies engaging key economic officials on regional and bilateral trade and investment issues. This year marks the Council’s 19th annual meeting with all ten ASEAN Economic Ministers. Ambassador Jeffrey Gerrish, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, led the consultation as part of the AEM-USTR Dialogue.

2018 Singapore Business Mission, August 20-21

On August 20, the US-ASEAN Business Council met with Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister-in-charge of the Smart Nation Initiative, H.E. Vivian Balakrishnan, as part of its 2018 Singapore Business Mission. The delegation of 22 companies, which is the largest Singapore Business Mission to date, was led by the Chair of the Council’s Singapore Committee, Karl Cox, Vice President of Global Public Affairs at Oracle; Alexander C. Feldman, President and CEO of the US-ASEAN Business Council; and Ambassador Michael W. Michalak, Council Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director.

Welcome Luncheon in Honor of H.E. Ha Kim Ngoc, Ambassador of Vietnam to the U.S.

On July 31, the US-ASEAN Business Council organized a welcome luncheon in Washington, D.C. in honor of H.E. Ha Kim Ngoc, the new Ambassador of Vietnam to the United States. The luncheon also included remarks by Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce Ian Steff, who is also currently performing the non-exclusive functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for Global Markets.

2018 Thailand Business Mission, June 26-28

The US-ASEAN Business Council met with H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha (Ret.), Prime Minister of Thailand, during its annual Thailand Business Mission on June 28, 2018. The delegation of 38 companies was co-led by the Chairman of the Council’s Board of Directors, Keith Williams, President, CEO and Trustee of Underwriters Laboratories (UL); Alexander C. Feldman, President & CEO of the US-ASEAN Business Council; Ambassador Michael W. Michalak, Senior Vice President & Regional Managing Director of the US-ASEAN Business Council; and the Council’s Thailand Committee Chair, Brad Middleton, Managing Director, Chevron Asia South.

2018 Annual Gala Dinner, April 26, 2018

The US-ASEAN Business Council welcomed three featured speakers at our annual gala dinner: Deputy U.S. Trade Representative for Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Industrial Competitiveness Jeffrey D. Gerrish (and now Acting President of the Export-Import Bank of the United States), Rep. Joaquin Castro, co-chair of the U.S. Congressional Caucus on ASEAN, and Rep. Ted Yoho, Chair of the Asia and the Pacific Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.