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For Immediate Release
August 2, 2010
Contact:
Anthony Nelson
Manager, Communications
(202) 416-6708
anelson@usasean.org
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US-ASEAN Business Council Brings First Mission to Brunei
(Bandar Seri Begawan) The US-ASEAN Business Council brought its first Business Mission to Brunei Darussalam today to meet with officials of the government to explore developing future avenues of cooperation. The delegation included executives from two of America’s leading energy companies, ConocoPhillips and the Chevron Corporation. The mission was co-led by Council Vice President Marc Mealy and Bill Lafferandre of ConocoPhillips, the Chair of the Council’s Brunei Committee.
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Marc Mealy, Vice President of the US-ASEAN Business Council noted: “The US-ASEAN Business Council’s visit to Brunei Darussalam reflects our strong desire to explore opportunities to strengthen bilateral economic ties between the United States and Brunei. This visit is a way for us to continue to build on Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Pehin Dato Lim Jock Seng’s highly successful visit to the United States in May where he met with executives from American companies, including several members of the US-ASEAN Business Council in Seattle, Washington and Washington DC.”
The delegation had a full slate of meetings Monday, including discussions with Minister of Energy Pehin Yasmin, Permanent Secretary Dato Lim Jock Hoi of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Acting CEO of Brunei Petroleum Azren bin Taib, and CEO Vincent Cheong of the Brunei Economic Development Board. The Council also exchanged views with Charge D’Affaires Llewellyn Hedgbeth of the U.S. Embassy.
Although U.S.-Brunei bilateral trade is relatively small, with only $140 million total trade in 2009, Brunei’s role in ASEAN and other regional organizations make it an important partner for U.S. business. Council members have particular interest in Brunei’s central role in the Trans Pacific Partnership, a Trade Agreement that could potentially help serve as the building block of a Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific.
"We hope this visit will be part of a larger process of raising awareness in the United States about trade and investment opportunities with Brunei," stated Mealy, "Brunei's participation in the TPP negotiations, of which it is a founding member, and serving as the host government of the 3rd round of TPP negotiations in October is an important contributing factor to an increase in Brunei's profile among members of the American business community. Brunei is clearly a strong partner for businesses looking to support Free Trade in the Asia-Pacific region."
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Currently celebrating its 25th anniversary, the US-ASEAN Business Council represents over100 major U.S. Corporations, ranging from those who have been active in Southeast Asia for over 100 years to newcomers looking to expand their presence in one of the world’s most dynamic markets. The Council’s sectoral working groups, including Customs, Defense & Security, Energy, Financial Services, Food and Agriculture, Health & Life Sciences, Information & Communications Technology, and Infrastructure, bring together the pre-eminent companies in their fields to enable high-level dialogues that help resolve issues and drive innovation and investment. With long-established personal and professional relationships in ASEAN and Washington, the Council is the most effective conduit between decision-makers on both sides of the Pacific.
Learn how we are connecting American business to Southeast Asia at www.usasean.org.
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For Further Information Please Contact Anthony Nelson at anelson@usasean.org.
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