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(Bangkok) -- From August 13-16, the US-ASEAN Business Council led a delegation of 46 leading American companies on the Council's annual Thailand Business Mission. Nearly 100 senior executives from a variety of industries met with recently re-elected Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, as well as newly appointed Cabinet members, senior Government officials, and key stakeholders in Thailand.
This mission was the Council’s largest single delegation to any ASEAN country in its 35-year history and served as companies’ first critical opportunity to engage with the new coalition Government following Thailand’s first general election in eight years.
(Washington, D.C.) - The East-West Center (EWC), the US-ASEAN Business Council and the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute released the 4th edition of the ASEAN Matters for America/America Matters for ASEAN publication today which can be accessed here.
(Kuala Lumpur) – More than 200 owners and executives of Malaysian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) from Kuala Lumpur and neighboring cities participated in a full-day workshop on titled “The Potential of Industry 4.0 for Malaysian SMEs”. The workshop was conducted in close collaboration with Malaysia’s Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI).
“Digital transformation brings challenges but more importantly, tremendous opportunities for businesses,” said Ambassador Michael W. Michalak, Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director at the US-ASEAN Business Council. “It changes the way companies operate and has the potential to revolutionize entire value chains from front line production, to corporate governance. We need to embrace this change. SMEs, especially, need to harness digital capabilities to grow their businesses and benefit from Industry 4.0.”
(Hanoi) – On 27-28 June, the US-ASEAN Business Council led a delegation of leading U.S. companies to Hanoi, Vietnam as part of its third Food & Agriculture Industry Mission to Vietnam. The Council delegation met with Vietnamese government officials, local associations and key stakeholders in the food and agriculture sector to discuss how the U.S. business community can support Vietnam’s agriculture development objectives and help strengthen the role of the agriculture sector as an engine of growth for Vietnam’s economy. The mission was co-led by Ambassador Michael W. Michalak, Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director of the US-ASEAN Business Council, and Mr. Pushpanathan Sundram, Regional Director for Public Policy & Government Affairs for Asia of Elanco Animal Health and Vice Chair of the Council’s Food & Agriculture Committee.
(Hanoi) – CropLife Asia, EU-ASEAN Business Council (EU-ABC) and the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) jointly conducted a workshop in Hanoi this week with national, regional and international food value chain stakeholders that signaled the second installment of the ASEAN Safe, Nutritious Food PPP Initiative. The three organizations have joined forces to form this new Alliance to lead a discussion around factors supporting a safe and nutritious supply of food in the region as well as help foster greater partnership between public and private sectors across the food value chain.
The Initiative’s second national workshop held in Hanoi brought more than 50 Vietnam Government officers and other national food chain stakeholders together with international and regional industry experts for a ‘farm-to-fork’ dialogue. The Initiative’s first national workshop was held in Bangkok on March 25 alongside the 2019 Responsible Business Forum on Food & Agriculture.
(Vientiane) - Facilitating e-Commerce, tackling illicit trade and counterfeits, and industry participation in Mutual Recognition Agreements for Authorized Economic Operators were primary areas of discussion between the Council-led delegation of U.S. businesses and ASEAN Customs officials during the Council’s annual mission to the ASEAN Customs Directors General Meeting in Vientiane, Laos. The Mission, from June 11-12, brought top executives from 9 U.S. companies to meet with officials from all 10 ASEAN member states.
(Washington, DC) - The Board of Directors, members and staff of the US-ASEAN Business Council extend condolences to the people of Indonesia and the Yudhoyono family on the passing of former First Lady Kristiani Herrawati Yudhoyono on June 1 after a four-month battle with leukemia.
“On behalf of the US-ASEAN Business Council, I send heartfelt condolences to former President Yudhoyono, the Yudhoyono family and the people of Indonesia,” said Alexander C. Feldman, President and CEO of the US-ASEAN Business Council. “I am deeply saddened to learn of this loss of the former First Lady.”
(Washington, DC) - The Board of Directors, members and staff of the US-ASEAN Business Council extend condolences to the people of the Kingdom of Thailand and Tinsulanonda family on the passing of former Thai Prime Minister and Chairman of the Privy Council, Prem Tinsulanonda on May 26 at age 98.
“Over many decades, Prem Tinsulanonda was an important hand in Thailand’s ongoing prosperity and stability,” said Alexander C. Feldman, President and CEO of the US-ASEAN Business Council. “I am saddened by this loss and express my sympathies during this time of mourning.”
(Singapore) - The US-ASEAN Business Council (US-ABC) and the Asia Internet Coalition (AIC) today hosted the first industry-led 2019 ASEAN Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue in Singapore, bringing together key stakeholders, including industry and regulators, to discuss the future of Over-the-Top (OTT) services and its contributing role to the growth of the ASEAN digital economy.
(Singapore) – The Council, during this year’s Singapore Business Mission, was among the first business groups to meet members of the Singapore cabinet following the cabinet reshuffle announced on April 23. This year’s business mission also celebrates the 15th anniversary of the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement which first came into force January 1, 2004.
From May 7-9, the Council-led delegation of 18 leading U.S. firms met with the Government of Singapore to discuss key economic policy and connectivity goals after its 2018 ASEAN Chairmanship, with a focus on Singapore’s Smart Nation initiative.
The delegation of U.S. firms expressed support for Singapore’s development of a strong digital infrastructure, enabling the goal outlined in its 2019 Budget of becoming a global node of Technology, Innovation and Enterprise.