Dear members,
Season’s greetings from the Council! We’ve kept up a fast pace as the year comes to a close, with our teams continuing to deliver standout programming and major advocacy wins for our members.
At the beginning of the month, I co-led a record-breaking delegation of 50 U.S. companies on our annual Indonesia Business Mission with our Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director Ambassador Brian McFeeters (ret.); our Indonesia Committee Chair, Batara Sianturi of Citi Indonesia; and Indonesian Chargé d’Affaires Sade Bimantara. The mission, which coincided with the 75th anniversary of U.S.-Indonesia diplomatic ties, focused on leveraging bilateral economic relations following the formation of the new cabinet under President Prabowo Subianto’s leadership.
Our delegation engaged with key government officials on digital transformation, sustainability, energy security, and supply chain resilience, with a focus on how the U.S. business community can support the new administration’s priorities. The delegation also participated in a special reception hosted by U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir.
The mission also served as a vehicle for delivering our Sector Overview Report, “Navigating Opportunities: Nurturing Dynamic Economic Policies in Indonesia,” to President Prabowo and his administration. The report highlights challenges, best practices, and concrete recommendations in seven sectors: Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Health and Life Sciences, Film Entertainment, Travel and Tourism, Trade Facilitation, Energy and Mineral Resources, and Food and Agriculture. The report and subsequent follow-up engagements with individual ministers is a Special Project created in partnership with the University of Indonesia and supported by a group of the Council’s member companies.
Just prior to the Indonesia Business Mission, we held our annual ASEAN Business Mission in Jakarta, with a thematic focus on advancing sustainable development in the region’s health, environment, and energy sectors. Led by Ambassador McFeeters, the delegation engaged with ASEAN Secretariat officials, the ASEAN Centre for Energy, the ASEAN Business Advisory Council Indonesia, the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to ASEAN, and the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA). Members of our delegation reaffirmed their commitment to driving innovative solutions, policy alignment, and regional integration to support ASEAN’s agenda for sustainable growth.
Last week, the Council led an Aerospace, Defense, and Security Mission to Hanoi immediately before Vietnam’s second-ever defense expo. Engagements included meetings with Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính and senior leaders of the Ministries of National Defense and Public Security, a reception hosted by U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper, and a seminar on defense industrial cooperation led by Lieutenant General Joel "JB" Vowell, Deputy Commanding General for U.S. Army Pacific Command (USARPAC). The mission served as a significant step toward deepening cooperation between the Government of Vietnam and U.S. companies in the aerospace, defense, and security sectors.
The Council was also honored to host H.E. Lê Hoài Trung, Member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat and Chairman of the Party’s Central Commission for External Relations, for a private discussion with the Council’s Chief Policy Officer Marc Mealy and a roundtable with Council members during the Chairman’s visit to Washington. Chairman Trung shared Vietnam’s ambitious development goals and underlined science and technology as key drivers of the bilateral relationship. At the roundtable, member companies shared updates on their operations, plans, and perspectives on the U.S.-Vietnam economic relationship.
To cap off the year, eighteen Directors convened in person and virtually for the Washington Board of Directors meeting on December 11. To set the wider geopolitical context for the meeting, Ambassador Michael Froman, President of the Council on Foreign Relations, delivered keynote remarks on the implications of the incoming U.S. administration for Southeast Asia.
During the meeting, the Board elected Sapna Chadha (Vice President, Southeast Asia and South Asia Frontier of Google) to serve as the Board's Nominations and Governance Committee Chair. The Board also welcomed eight new Directors: Shakilla Shahjihan of Abbott, Michaela Browning of Brunswick Group, Anuja Kadian of Corteva Agriscience, Sarah Kemp of Intel, Prashant Kumar of KKR, Maryscott Greenwood of Manulife, Jonathan Collard of Solventum, and Reggie Lai of TE Connectivity, bringing the total number of Directors to 35. The Board bid farewell to some of its long-standing Directors and thanked them for their support: David Lewis of Energy Capital Vietnam, Kawal Preet of FedEx, Dr. Vivek Lall of General Atomics, Jeff Rittener of Intel, Dean Garfield of Netflix, and Ambassador Peter Selfridge of SAP. The Board also approved the Council’s Strategic Plan for 2025-2027.
That afternoon, Board Chair Jeffrey Perlman and I had the honor of meeting with a bipartisan group of members of Congress to discuss economic opportunities in ASEAN and the development of U.S.-ASEAN relations. We held engaging discussions with Senator Tammy Duckworth, Senator Chris Van Hollen, Congresswoman Young Kim, and Congressman Ed Case. We look forward to more close engagements with Congress as the new administration takes office.
Looking ahead to next year, we are eager to engage with Malaysia’s leadership as the country assumes its ASEAN Chairmanship for 2025. Earlier this month, the Council attended an exclusive briefing with Malaysian Ambassador to the United States Dato Seri Nazri Aziz and MITI officials to learn about the country’s role and aspirations as a regional leader. We look forward to presenting our White Paper to the Government of Malaysia as part of our chairmanship kickoff special project, which will help to facilitate strong and dynamic ties between the U.S. private sector and the government.
Next year will also be filled with even more high-level programming and advocacy, and you can keep track of our busy agenda on this events calendar. If you would like to explore a particular topic in detail, we welcome ideas for future special projects and multi-year initiatives; you may contact our Director of Strategic Initiatives Angga Antagia (aantagia@usasean.org), other Council leaders, or me to share your thoughts and questions.
Thank you for your continued support in making this a standout year for the Council, with record-breaking missions, sweeping advocacy wins, and a packed schedule of programming. I look forward to working closely with you in the new year, and I wish you and your families a very happy holiday season.
Best regards,
Ted
Month in Review
On December 9, the Council and the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) welcomed the ASEAN Emerging Female Leaders to Washington. The group heard reflections from Ambassador Carla Hills (ret.), the first female U.S. Trade Representative, whose distinguished career in international trade inspired this cohort of future female leaders. Wendy Cutler, Vice President at ASPI and former Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative; Meredith Mellody, Vice President at Brown-Forman; and Ambassador Ted Osius (ret.) offered remarks to recognize the visitors and their achievements. Representatives from ASEAN embassies, the U.S. government, and member companies joined the festivities for cocktails and conversation.
On December 11, we were pleased to host Minister Counselor for ASEAN Aileen Nandi for a breakfast dialogue in Singapore. Aileen Nandi shared her thoughts on key priority sectors for 2025, including critical emerging technologies, digital economy, healthcare, energy, and aviation and defense. She also offered information on how the U.S. Department of Commerce can assist companies with trade promotion and company advocacy. Special thanks to member company Verizon for providing their excellent venue overlooking Marina Bay.
Delegations and Envoys
On December 6, Acting Assistant Secretary for Global Public Affairs Stephanie Sutton traveled to Thailand and Hawaii. In Thailand, Acting Assistant Secretary Sutton met with U.S. spokespersons based in East Asia to enhance their engagement with local and international media, foster collaboration, and refine approaches to countering foreign malign influence. (Source)
On December 6, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel J. Kritenbrink traveled to Bangkok for consultations with senior officials at the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (Source)
On December 6, the Philippines and the United States held the second annual Energy Policy Dialogue (EPD) in Manila, where the two sides underscored their commitment to deepen cooperation on energy security, energy access, and the clean energy transition. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Diplomacy Kimberly Harrington, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Ann Ganzer, and Ambassador MaryKay Carlson led the U.S. delegation. (Source)
On December 10, Japan hosted the inaugural United States-Japan-Philippines Maritime Dialogue in Tokyo, Japan. Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Dan Kritenbrink, National Security Council Senior Director for East Asia and Oceania Mira Rapp-Hooper, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia Laura Updegrove, Deputy Commander, U.S. Forces Japan Major General George Rowell, and U.S. Coast Guard Director of International Affairs and Foreign Policy Advisor Holly Haverstick were the senior representatives for the U.S. delegation. (Source)
Upcoming Special Projects
From January 15 to 17, the Council will lead a business mission to the 5th ASEAN Digital Ministers Meeting (ADGMIN) in Bangkok, Thailand. In line with the 5th ADGMIN theme, “Secure, Innovative, Inclusive: Shaping ASEAN's Digital Future,” the Council will organize plenary and bilateral engagements with key stakeholders, highlighting opportunities and challenges related to AI, data governance, cybersecurity, and the digital economy. To register for the Mission, please click here. For additional questions, please contact Le Nguyen (lnguyen@usasean.org).
From January 16 to 19, the Council will lead a business mission to the 28th Meeting of the ASEAN Tourism Ministers (M-ATM), in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The mission will engage government officials and stakeholders through plenary sessions with National Tourism Organization (NTOs) officials and ASEAN Tourism Ministers, bilateral meetings with the heads of delegation from ASEAN member states, and an exclusive lunch session with key policy implementers. With 2025 marking the final year of the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan (ATSP) 2016-2025, this mission presents a valuable opportunity for members to gain insights and contribute to discussions on ASEAN’s future tourism strategies. To register for the Mission, please click here. For additional questions, please contact Pimploy Vivatanapaiboonlap (pimploy@usasean.org).
Upcoming Events
On December 2, the Council will hold an ASEAN Business Mission in Jakarta, Indonesia. The mission, under the theme of “Advancing Sustainable Development in the Health, Environment, and Energy Sectors for Resilient Growth in ASEAN,” aims to foster collaboration between the U.S. private sector and the ASEAN Secretariat. The mission will be held in conjunction with the 2024 Indonesia Business Mission from December 3 to 5. For more information, contact Marcella Suwandhi (msuwandhi@usasean.org).
From December 3 to 5, the Council will hold its 2024 Indonesia Business Mission. Co-led by Ambassador Ted Osius (ret.) and Ambassador Brian McFeeters (ret.), the mission is designed to establish strategic relationships with key ministries, including new ministries under the Prabowo administration. For any questions, please contact Mega Valentina (mega@usasean.org) or Nugraheni Utami (utami@usasean.org).
On December 9, the Council and the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) are pleased to celebrate ASPI’s ASEAN Emerging Female Leaders cohort at our holiday reception. The ASEAN Emerging Female Leaders, which consists of women from the public and private sector across Southeast Asia, are visiting Washington, D.C. to enhance their knowledge and expand their networks in international trade. Representatives from the U.S. government, ASEAN embassies, and the private sector will be in attendance, among other members of the Southeast Asia policy community to welcome them to Washington. Special thanks to Brown-Forman for hosting and serving specialty cocktails for this event!
From December 16 to 18, the Council will lead its Aerospace, Defense, and Security (ADS) industry mission to Vietnam. Anticipated engagements include meetings with the Prime Minister and senior leaders of the Ministry of National Defense (MND) and the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), discussions with procurement agencies, a site visit to a defense manufacturing facility, engagements with the U.S. Embassy team, including Ambassador Marc E. Knapper and working-level counterparts, and a roundtable with a high-level leader from the U.S. Department of Defense. For more information, please contact Chuck Casey (ccasey@usasean.org) or Thanh Vu (tvu@usasean.org).
Membership Update
A huge thank you to our members for a successful year of engagement and advocacy! Your continued support of the Council makes our work possible. In addition to our flagship business missions and ticketed events, the Council hosted a total of 45 free events for our members throughout 2024, including 17 in Washington and 13 in the region. We look forward to engaging our members at more events and other programming in the new year.
How did the Council serve you in 2024? How can the Council improve in 2025? We’d love to hear your feedback! Members are invited to respond to the 2024 Membership Survey by January 17, 2025. Click here to complete the survey.
Comings and Goings
The Council bids farewell to Celine Kusnadi, Manager for the ASEAN and Sustainability Committees. Celine ably led our work on Standards and contributed to the Sustainability and SME programs during the past three and a half years. Celine will join ERIA in the new year. We wish Celine well in her new role.
Council in the News
Thailand and USABC strengthen economic partnership in strategic industries - Pattaya Mail
PM meets with USABC representatives - Royal Thai Government
For all businesses to flourish - VnEconomy
Lee Hsien Loong: Can China’s ‘old friend’ help navigate US-China relations? - ThinkChina
Marcos Jr recognizes PH's 'slow' transition to renewable energy - ABS-CBN
US-ASEAN Business Council partnering with Indonesia for Astacita - Antara News
President stresses zero tolerance for corruption hindering investment - Antara News
50 Pemimpin Perusahaan AS Makan Siang dengan Prabowo, Ada ExxonMobil-Apple - Metro TV
US-ASEAN Business Council Champions Sustainable Development at ASEAN Business Mission - Indiplomacy
Indonesia expands cooperation with US-ABC to boost tourism - Antara News
Remarks at US-ASEAN Business Council (US-ABC) Meeting - Presiden Republik Indonesia
Indonesia's Prabowo praises his ministers at US-ASEAN business meeting - Antara
ExxonMobil commits US$15 billion to Indonesia's carbon capture efforts - Antara
Prabowo Subianto's Early Presidency Shows Promise Amid Challenges - The Pinnacle Gazette
Airlangga Reveals US ABC Commitment To Support Strengthening Cooperation - VOI
USABC and DBM hold first-ever workshop on New Government Procurement Act (NGPA) - Mindanao Times
US firms look to engage with Philippine government's new procurement law - Manila Bulletin
Indonesia Looks To USA For Its 2045 Digital Vision - Business Today
Indonesia partners with US to achieve Digital Vision 2045 - Antara
US-ABC strengthens Indonesia's role in ASEAN-US cooperation: Minister - Antara News
Indonesia says Exxon will invest $15bn in carbon storage - Nikkei Asia
Indonesia, USABC explore cooperation opportunities - Antara
Indonesia-U.S. Collaboration in Digital Innovation, Transformation - OpenGovAsia
2025 elections pose risks to public spending, growth goals—DBCC - Manila Bulletin
Not just tariffs: Trump 2.0 could bring some trade deals for South-east Asia too - The Straits Times
PM welcomes US aerospace, defence, security enterprises - Vietnam Plus
Commerce minister vows to remove Thailand from US IP Watch List - Asia News Network
Vietnam’s premier meets US aerospace, defense, security enterprises - Tuoi Tre news
Vietnamese PM urges US aerospace, defense firms to transfer technology - Vietnamnet Global
Thúc đẩy hợp tác về hàng không, công nghệ cao giữa Việt Nam và Hoa Kỳ - Nhan Dan
