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Washington, DC (December 2, 2021) – Marking the publication of the “e-Conomy Southeast Asia 2021” Report, the US-ASEAN Business Council (US-ABC) and Google convened key U.S. and Southeast Asian policymakers, academics, and private sector representatives to discuss the incredible opportunities of ASEAN’s internet economy during a regional webinar on December 1 and an in-person launch event in Washington, DC on December 2. Commissioned by Google, Temasek, and Bain & Company, the Report offers key insights and analysis on Southeast Asia’s vibrant digital economy across the region’s six largest economies: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
(Jakarta, Indonesia) – On November 22, the US-ASEAN Business Council (the Council), in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, conducted a webinar for ASEAN small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The event was part of the Council’s broader workshop series in response to the COVID-19 crisis and was hosted in conjunction with the 2021 ASEAN Creative Economy Business Forum from November 16-23. More than 200 SMEs across Southeast Asia participated in the webinar themed around “Enhancing ASEAN SMEs Competitiveness amid Digital Creative Economy Era.”
The US-ASEAN Business Council (The Council) led its 6th consecutive delegation to the 27th ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting and engaged top transport officials in a virtual consultation on November 11. The virtual consultation session was chaired by H.E. Sun Chanthol, Minister of Public Works and Transport of Cambodia, and the Council's Senior Vice President & Regional Managing Director, Ambassador (ret.) Michael Michalak. During the session, industry experts from the Council's membership provided an exclusive joint presentation on supporting ASEAN's efforts to stay adaptable to ensure the safe and sustainable movement of goods, people, and services across the region. The joint presentation also reaffirmed the U.S.
(Washington, DC) The US-ASEAN Business Council (US-ABC) and its members congratulate the successful ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement by six ASEAN member states – Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam – along with Australia, China, Japan and New Zealand, which satisfies the agreement’s criteria for bringing it into force. After an eight-year-long negotiation process, RCEP will enter into force effective January 1, 2022. US-ABC also commends ASEAN on achieving its top regional trade policy goal, which reflects the region’s strong commitment to deepening regional economic integration and trade to support its post-COVID-19 economic recovery efforts.
(Hanoi) - From September 30 to October 16, 2021, the US-ASEAN Business Council (the Council) led a delegation of 37 leading U.S. companies on the 2021 Vietnam Business Mission. The Council's delegation met with government officials and key stakeholders across several ministries and agencies to reinforce the Council's dedication to supporting Vietnam's COVID-19 economic recovery. During the Mission, the Council reaffirmed its commitment to establish working relationships with the new Government in Vietnam and deepen existing relationships with key Government of Vietnam (GOV) agencies and offices, relevant members of the National Assembly, and members of the Politburo. This year, the Mission was conducted virtually. The Mission was also co-led by the Council’s President & CEO Ambassador Ted Osius; the Council's Senior Vice President & Regional Managing Director Ambassador Michael W.
(Manila, Philippines) – On October 14, the US-ASEAN Business Council (the Council), in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry, Philippines and QBO, conducted a workshop for start-ups in the Philippines. The event was part of the Council’s broader workshop series in response to the COVID-19 crisis. More than 250 Filipino startup founders participated in the workshop session themed, “Advancing the Competitiveness of Philippines Start-ups.”
The workshop was officially opened by Ambassador Michael Michalak, Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director of the Council and Ms. Clare Amador, Head of Public Policy from Facebook Philippines.
The US-ASEAN Business Council hosted a Tech in Trade capacity building workshop on September 28, 2021. The workshop addressed the various customs policy challenges that exist today across ASEAN, and how the adoption of cutting-edge technologies can not only alleviate burdens on customs officers but also accelerate trade and recovery goals, while creating broad-based, sustainable, and inclusive socio-economic growth. The workshop also served as an opportunity for the U.S. private sector and other stakeholders across the region to share knowledge and best practices with ASEAN Customs officials and border agencies toward full, contactless, electronic customs processes in a post COVID-19 world.
(Washington) – September 14. The US-ASEAN Business Council Institute (USABCI), together with the American Indonesian Chamber of Commerce (AICC), successfully facilitated delivery of 30 pallets of critical relief materials to Indonesia amidst recent COVID-19 outbreaks. The organizations jointly led efforts to coordinate two in-kind shipments from express carriers FedEx and UPS, with expertise and technical assistance provided by Deloitte. The 30 pallets collectively included over 1 million swab kits, and other categories of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from a larger donation by the City of New York to Yayasan BUMN untuk, the foundational arm of the Ministry for State Owned Enterprises (BUMN) in Indonesia.
The US-ASEAN Business Council led a delegation to the 53rd ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting (AEM) and held its 22nd annual consultation on September 14 with all ten ASEAN Economic Ministers co-chaired by Brunei Darussalam Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II H.E. Dato Dr. Amin Liew Abdullah and the U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai. The Council delegates will hold a series of bilateral meetings with heads of delegation from ASEAN Member States, the ASEAN Secretariat, the ASEAN Business Advisory Council, U.S. Government officials from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and the U.S. Mission to ASEAN.