Margaret Hanson-Muse is the Chief Operating Officer of US-ABC. She oversees the Council’s strategic planning, IT, human resources, budgeting, membership, and communications functions.  She is President of the USABCI, a 501(c)3 organization. Fluent in Spanish and French, Ms. Hanson-Muse was a senior diplomat with the U.S. Department of Commerce. Her international assignments included Singapore/ASEAN, India, Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, and Costa Rica. Ms. Hanson-Muse was a management professional at Allstate Insurance, General Electric, and Sprint/Telenet.

The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) is a landmark bilateral initiative launched in January 2025 by Malaysia and Singapore to boost cross-border economic integration, attract investments, and support sustainable development. As the only cross-national SEZ in ASEAN, the JS-SEZ offers a unique package of benefits, including tax and duty exemptions, streamlined customs processes, and mobility incentives for businesses and talent. However, since its launch, not much is known about the opportunities available for companies looking to tap into the JS-SEZ. Previous iterations of cross-border investment schemes in ASEAN have included discussions about expedited visas for investors, lower tax rates for skilled workers, and streamlined procedures.The US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) is organizing a deep dive into the Johor-Singapore SEZ, working with United Overseas Bank (UOB) to facilitate two days of meetings in Singapore and Johor. This will also include a site visit to Johor for companies to see the developments in Malaysia. Government meetings planned include Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), the Johor State Government, Malaysia Investment Development Authority (MIDA), and the Invest Malaysia Facilitation Centre - Johor (IMFC-J).