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The US-ASEAN Business Council led a delegation to the 54th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ (AEM) Meeting for the 23rd consecutive year of attending the AEM annual consultation with the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). The Meeting was co-chaired by Cambodia Minister of Commerce, H. E. Pan Sorasak, and the U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai. The Council also held bilateral meetings with high-level officials from Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore, the Philippines, the ASEAN Business Advisory Council, and USTR.
(September 16, 2022) – The US-ASEAN Business Council (US-ABC) in partnership with the Cambodia Ministry of Commerce conducted an SME-oriented capacity building event in Cambodia on the sidelines of the 54th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ (AEM) Meeting. This event was the first hybrid SME workshop after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event also included the participation of the Cambodia Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MISTI), and the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce as additional organizing partners. Themed “Enhancing Digital Trade for Cambodian SMEs,” the workshop featured a policy dialogue and digital skills training from public and private sector representatives. Overall there were 145 Cambodian SMEs joined the event.
Siem Reap, Cambodia – The US-ASEAN Business Council (US-ABC), working with Google and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), held a breakfast roundtable on ASEAN Tech Talks prior to the launching of the joint report by Google and ICC on ASEAN micro, medium, and small enterprises (MSMEs) and Digital Exports on Friday, September 16, 2022. The roundtable was part of the Council’s ongoing SME Program and a sideline event to the 54th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ (AEM) Meeting in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
(Jakarta, Indonesia) – The US-ASEAN Business Council (US-ABC) led a delegation of 35 U.S. companies on its first in-person Indonesia Business Mission in three years. Taking place from 23-26 August, 80 senior-level executives representing the U.S. private sector from multiple industries were received by President Joko Widodo (“Jokowi”) on August 24. U.S.
(Manila, Philippines) – On August 16, 2022, the US-ASEAN Business Council (the Council), in collaboration with IBM, hosted “Digital Transformation in Government,” an event for different government agencies to discuss their initiatives and challenges in shifting to a more digital landscape with their department’s duties and operations. Around forty (40) public officials from different departments and government agencies attended the event.
The event was officially opened by Amb. Michael Michalak, the Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director for the Council, and Mr. Paul Burton, the IBM Asia Pacific General Manager. Both delivered their welcome remarks respectively, highlighting the increasing importance of digitization to the nation and economy amidst globalization and the new normal.
Secretary Blinken’s participation in last week’s ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) meeting of Foreign Ministers hosted by the Government of Cambodia in Phnom Penh reinforces the value of “ASEAN Centrality” to America’s Indo-Pacific Strategy.
Given the growing importance of ASEAN to America’s economic interests -- six ASEAN nations were ranked in the top 31 of America’s largest trade partners in the world last year -- it is vital that the United States strengthen its engagement with ASEAN as a region, as others around the world are actively doing.
(Manila, Philippines) – On July 29, 2022, the US-ASEAN Business Council (the Council), in partnership with the Philippines Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Philippines Trade Training Center, conducted a workshop for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Philippines. The event was part of the Council’s broader workshop series to support the Philippine economic recovery. More than 500 Filipino SMEs participated in the workshop session themed, “Addressing Digital Skill Gaps for Philippine SMEs.”
The workshop was officially opened by Ms. Blesila A. Lantayona, Undersecretary of Regional Operations Group (ROG) of the Department of Trade and Industry who delivered welcome remarks highlighting the importance of MSMEs in the Philippine Economy and how digitalization brought new opportunities for MSMEs.
He pushed for economic reforms, including the liberalization of the telecommunications sector and steered the country out of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. A graduate of West Point and a friend of the United States, he kept the U.S.-Philippines alliance strong through the negotiation of the Visiting Forces Agreement and called for the return of the Balangiga Bells, through quiet diplomacy, for national heritage and reconciliation.
(Washington, D.C.) - The US-ASEAN Business Council Institute (USABCI), the charitable arm of the US-ASEAN Business Council, is pleased to announce that former U.S. Ambassador to Myanmar Scot Marciel has joined the Myanmar Scholarship Fund steering committee as Patron. He will serve with Ambassador Derek Mitchell, also a former U.S. ambassador to Myanmar, on the steering committee.
(Washington, DC) – U.S. industry strongly supports the governments of Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam in launching the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).