About Us

The US-ASEAN Business Council Inc. (Council) was established in 1984 as a non-profit organization. On behalf of its members, the Council conducts research and analysis of economic, environmental, financial, political, and social, conditions in the eleven countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam comprise the eleven nations of ASEAN. 

I’m midway through a 4-country trip in the ASEAN region, so let me share a few takeaways. Our August 18-20 Philippines Business Mission, which our Chief Country Representative Third Bagro and his team organized superbly, started strongly with our 35 member companies meeting with President Marcos for 1.5 hours on day one. He set a forward-leaning tone that continued throughout the three days. Compared to two years ago, when I last led this business mission, my impression was that top government officials are more focused on working with USABC member companies and resolving difficulties in various sectors. One delegate wrote that the business mission was among her company’s best advocacy experiences in the region. In Jakarta, where I spent August 23-27 to prepare for our November 3-5 Indonesia Business Mission and connect with member companies, I was glad to join our Indonesia Chief Country Representative Nugraheni Utami and a dozen member companies in an August 24 discussion with the Chairman of Indonesia’s National Economic Council, Luhut Pandjaitan, covering digital transformation and other issues. For our Indonesia team and member companies, this was the 45th meeting with GOI this year, an excellent example of detailed follow up after our business missions...

Our Board is composed of a diverse and balanced group of leaders who possess the independence and expertise necessary to fulfill their governance roles on behalf of the members of the US-ASEAN Business Council. The Council's Corporate Governance Principles and committee charters are aligned with best practices and regulatory expectations, building upon a longstanding foundation of governance principles adhered to by the Council and its antecedents. The Board acknowledges the dynamic nature of governance principles and commits to periodically reassessing these principles in response to evolving circumstances and the unique challenges of fostering US-ASEAN business relations.

Join us at the US-ASEAN Business Council: Where opportunities meet expertise to shape the future of trade and commerce in Southeast Asia.