Dear members,
Autumn greetings from the Council, and happy Deepavali to our friends in the region who celebrate. October has been a busy month in Southeast Asia, with the inauguration of a new president in Indonesia and the selection of another new president in Vietnam. I’m delighted to share the many exciting events that we’ve been organizing for our members over the last few weeks.
On October 22, the Council and the American Indonesian Chamber of Commerce (AICC) hosted a business forum in New York to commemorate 75 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and Indonesia. The forum featured virtual remarks from Governor of Bank Indonesia Perry Warjiyo, followed by a fireside chat between Governor Perry and Marc Mealy, the Council’s Chief Policy Officer and Senior Vice President. Mr. Mealy subsequently led a panel discussion with Jeremy Sturchio, Senior Vice President at Visa, and Tessal Febrian, Director of the Indonesia Investment Promotion Center (IIPC) New York. The forum featured a VIP reception with distinguished guests from the Government of Indonesia and the private sector, followed by a luncheon reception and award presentation in honor of Bank Indonesia.
On October 24, the Council hosted a roundtable with the Secretary of Finance of the Philippines Ralph G. Recto. Secretary Recto shared his insights on the country’s current economic outlook and emphasized the government's efforts to improve its ease of doing business. Council members engaged in a lively dialogue with Secretary Recto and senior officials from the Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) on fiscal policies and opportunities to strengthen collaborations between the U.S. private sector and the Government of the Philippines.
On October 28, the Council hosted a roundtable in Washington, D.C., to discuss the implications of the upcoming U.S. presidential election on U.S.-ASEAN relations and commerce. Tara Corrigan, a former Obama White House official and COO of The Messina Group, and Ashley Davis, a former Bush White House official and Founding Partner of West Front Strategies, joined us for a conversation moderated by Mike Viqueira, Washington Bureau Chief of NewsNation. With Election Day quickly approaching, the event shared with ASEAN Embassy officials a prescient analysis of the U.S. electoral system and politics. Following the roundtable, ASEAN and U.S. government officials, member companies, and other thought leaders in the Southeast Asia policy community gathered for drinks and light bites during our networking reception.
I also had the honor of contributing to a report with the Asia Foundation entitled “Critical Issues for the United States in Southeast Asia in 2025.” The report is the result of eight months of discussions on economic relations, climate policy, energy, and maritime security in the region, providing analysis and recommendations for the new U.S. administration that will take office next year. You can read the report here.
Looking ahead to the remaining two months of the year, we are excited to be conducting our 2024 Thailand, Indonesia, and ASEAN Business Missions, as well as an Aerospace, Defense, and Security (ADS) industry mission to Vietnam. I hope to see many of you there and at our many other events to come.
Best regards,
Ted
Month in Review
On September 27, the Johns Hopkins Alumni Association honored Ambassador Ted Osius (ret.), President and CEO of the Council, with the Woodrow Wilson Award for Distinguished Public Service. This prestigious award recognizes those alumni whose “outstanding career in public service epitomizes the Johns Hopkins tradition of service to society.”
On September 30, the Council hosted a luncheon in honor of His Excellency Sun Chanthol, Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia and First Vice-Chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), during his working visit to the United States. A longtime friend of the Council, Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol is a leading champion for U.S. businesses, both in his current role and in his previous postings as Minister of Public Works and Transport and Minister of Commerce. The luncheon provided a unique opportunity for member companies to interact directly with Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol in a private and off-the-record setting. This environment allowed for discussions of opportunities and challenges for the American private sector in Cambodia.
On October 8, the Council, in collaboration with the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, hosted an IPEF roundtable in Washington, D.C. with a visiting delegation under the IPEF Leaders Lead On-Demand (LLOD) Program for South and East Asia, supported by the U.S. State Department. During the roundtable, participants engaged in candid discussions on key pillars under IPEF and the potential impact of various political developments and investment trends.
On October 9, the Council, in collaboration with the U.S. Executive Director's Office at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and with support from Mastercard and Jhpiego, hosted the ADB Partners’ Night. The event gathered over 100 distinguished participants, including key U.S. and Philippine government officials and prominent private sector leaders. The event facilitated valuable dialogue ahead of ADB's 12th Business Opportunities Fair on October 9 and 10.
On October 14, the Council hosted a discussion with Steven Okun, Founder and CEO of APAC Advisors, who provided an analysis of the upcoming U.S. election and its potential implications for the political and economic landscapes in the United States and Southeast Asia. Drawing from his extensive experience in public affairs and past roles in the Clinton administration, as well as at UPS and KKR, Mr. Okun covered several key issues, including voter sentiment, swing states, and the possible economic consequences of the election. Mr. Okun also discussed U.S.-China relations and the potential policy shifts under a Trump or Harris administration, offering members valuable insights into how the election could impact business in the region.
On October 15, on the sidelines of Singapore International Cyber Week (SICW), the Council partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and BSA/The Software Alliance to jointly host an industry listening session with the Office of the National Cyber Director’s (ONCD) Assistant National Cyber Director Phil Stupak. The roundtable session gathered senior cybersecurity professionals, thought leaders, and government officials. ONCD presented their National Cybersecurity Strategy and National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy, engaging on topics relating to domestic policy concerns and geopolitical and supply chain cyber risks.
GATT DC (LGBTQ+ Professionals in International Trade) and the Association of Women in International Trade (WIIT) joined the Council’s President and CEO Ambassador Ted Osius (ret.) and COO Margaret Hanson-Muse for a discussion on supply chain security and Southeast Asia. Ambassador Osius and Ms. Hanson-Muse highlighted investment opportunities in Southeast Asia and the value of talent development for supply chain stability.
On October 22, US-ASEAN Business Council Institute (USABCI), in collaboration with Amazon Global Selling, hosted a networking luncheon and report launch titled “The E-commerce Export Opportunity in ASEAN” on the sidelines of the 18th ASEAN Coordinating Committee on MSMEs (ACCMSME) Meeting in Bali, Indonesia. The event served as a platform for in-depth discussions among ASEAN member states, dialogue partners, and the private sector. These discussions focused on strengthening e-commerce exports and fostering cross-border collaboration within the region, highlighting the importance of advancing market expansion for ASEAN MSMEs.
On October 22 and 23, the Council’s Regional Managing Director and Senior Vice President, Amb. Brian McFeeters (ret.) participated in three panels at Singapore International Energy Week. Ambassador McFeeters moderated the Singapore-IRENA High-Level Forum to facilitate substantive discussion on financing the green energy transition in Southeast Asia; spoke as a leading expert on the forum, “Supporting Commercialization of Hydrogen Technologies and Systems”; and moderated a discussion on financing hydrogen deployment. These substantive engagements were supported and informed by the Council’s member companies and leading industry experts from various energy fields. Ambassador McFeeters also spoke at a U.S. Department of State Bureau of Energy Resources Workshop, “Identifying, Accelerating, and Encouraging Financing for Clean Energy Projects in South and Southeast Asia.”
On October 22 and 23, the Council led a delegation of representatives from Citi, S&P Global, J.P. Morgan, and PepsiCo to the 2024 ASEAN Capital Markets Forum (ACMF) in Vientiane, Laos. This year marked the 20th anniversary of the ACMF and highlighted the forum’s key themes of facilitating regional growth through enhancing connectivity, sustainability, and resilience across ASEAN capital markets. During the forum, the Council also engaged with the State Securities Commission of Vietnam (SSC) and the Financial Services Authority of Indonesia (OJK).
On October 23, on the sidelines of the annual IMF/World Bank Group Fall Meetings, the Council co-hosted an evening reception with Delphos at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington, D.C. The reception, which focused on financing infrastructure and the energy transition in Southeast Asia, began with a panel discussion moderated by Ambassador Roya Rahmani (ret.) with leaders from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Development Finance Corporation (DFC), FinDev Canada, and Oesterreichische Entwicklungsbank AG. Following remarks from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), attendees networked and shared their thoughts on Southeast Asia’s energy and infrastructure development.
On October 24, the Council hosted a roundtable discussion with Chief Fintech Officer Sopnendu Mohanty from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Director Illango Patchamuthu from the World Bank Digital Transformation Vice Presidency Front Office. The event, which focused on the role of international financial institutions in ASEAN’s digitalization journey, offered member companies an opportunity to engage directly with MAS and the World Bank on strategies to foster digital innovation. Topics of discussion included promoting inclusive digital transformation, developing digital talent, and enhancing public-private collaboration.
On October 31, the Council hosted a Founder’s Award Luncheon in Washington, D.C. At the luncheon, the Council’s President and CEO Ambassador Ted Osius (ret.) presented awards to Robert Driscoll, the first president of the Council, and Carla Hills, on behalf of her late husband, Roderick Hills, former chair of the Council. The award ceremony honored the contributions of these two leaders in founding and building the Council in its earliest days.
Delegations and Envoys
Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice Beth Van Schaack traveled to Bangkok, Thailand, from October 4 to 7. In Thailand, Ambassador Van Schaack met with members of the Government of Thailand, as well as civil society, experts, and organizations.
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken traveled from October 8 to 11 to Vientiane, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), to represent the United States at the ASEAN and related leaders’ meetings.
The Honorable Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, led a presidential delegation to the Republic of Indonesia to attend the inauguration of His Excellency Prabowo Subianto on October 20.
Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources Geoffrey R. Pyatt traveled to Singapore from October 21 to 23 for Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW). He met with regional and global energy ministers and join a series of panels and roundtable discussions on low carbon technologies and the role of the private sector in Southeast Asia’s energy security and clean energy transition.
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets and Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service Arun Venkataraman traveled to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam from October 28 to 30, to advance U.S.-Vietnam bilateral commercial ties.
Upcoming Events
Please find the latest version of the Council's 2024 Events Calendar here.
On November 4, the Council will host a workshop in Jakarta, Indonesia, for the DEFA Negotiating Committee. This workshop series will be held back-to-back with the DEFA negotiation meeting and co-organized with the U.S. Mission to ASEAN. Key topics may include the application of non-discriminatory treatment for digital trade products, principles of building digital trust, and cooperation on emerging technologies within the DEFA framework. The Council will also present case studies and best practices to showcase how these principles drive digital transformation.
In November, the Council will attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP) as an observer organization. The Council aims to identify like-minded organizations with whom it can partner on sustainability issues, such as transition finance and net-zero transformation. The Council will have limited Blue Pass access that member companies can use. Please reach out to Christine Wan (cwan@usasean.org) for more information.
On November 12, Chairman’s Council members are invited to the Chairman’s Council Advisory Group meeting. The virtual discussion will begin with an analysis of the outcome of the U.S. election analysis with Ambassador Bill Heidt (ret.) and Ambassador Frank Lavin (ret.). Chairman’s Council members will additionally discuss the Council’s progress and how it can best serve its members. Please register here.
On November 14, the Council will host a Digital Transformation in Government Workshop on Cybersecurity in Marco Polo Ortigas, Pasig City, Philippines. The event, in partnership with IBM, Google, and AWS, will convene roughly 100 technology, procurement, and policy officers from various government agencies and the private sector. Key discussions will focus on protecting citizens’ digital information, safeguarding critical infrastructure, and sharing best practices in cybersecurity. Undersecretary for Infostructure Management, Cybersecurity and Upskilling Jeffrey Dy will present on developments to the National Cybersecurity Plan for 2023-2028. This workshop offers a unique opportunity to engage directly with key stakeholders in the government’s cybersecurity efforts. Registration will open soon for members interested in participating. For more information, please contact Catherine Salazar (csalazar@usasean.org).
On November 18, the Council will co-organize a workshop with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) on the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the New Government Procurement Act, which are currently being drafted and set for release in January 2025. This event will serve as a valuable platform for member companies to connect with key government officials, discuss the NGPA’s most critical provisions, and review the draft IRR before it is finalized.
From November 20 to 22, the Council will send a delegation to the 30th ASEAN Transport Ministers’ Meeting, hosted by this year's Chair, Malaysia, where the Council will also present a policy recommendation paper on integrated transport solutions to the Ministers of ASEAN member states. Please contact Angelica Takashima (atakashima@usasean.org) for more information.
From November 25 to 27, the Council will hold its 2024 Thailand Business Mission. This year’s mission comes at a pivotal time, following the appointment of the new Thai Prime Minister and changes in key cabinet positions. The focus of the mission will be on engaging with the new Thai administration, gaining insight into its recently announced policies, and identifying investment opportunities and trade barriers. The Prime Minister of Thailand is confirmed to meet with the delegation during the mission. To register, please click here. For additional questions, please contact Hai Pham (hpham@usasean.org) and Pimploy Vivatanapaiboonlap (pimploy@usasean.org).
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. This year’s mission falls on the 75th anniversary of U.S.-Indonesia relations and will take place after the country’s presidential and ministerial inaugurations. 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. Please register by the early bird deadline on November 1. For any questions, please contact Mega Valentina (mega@usasean.org) or Nugraheni Utami (utami@usasean.org).
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
This year, we’ve transitioned to new online platforms, Info Hub and Business Mission Manager. Info Hub allows you to view upcoming events and subscribe for Council intelligence. Meanwhile, you can register for business missions through Business Mission Manager. Please find attached PDF instructions on how to use each platform. Please contact membership@usasean.org if you encounter any technical issues.
Council in the Press
Tổng Bí thư, Chủ tịch nước Tô Lâm: cởi mở hơn, ủng hộ hòa giải và tự do học thuật? - BBC News
Petrovietnam ký MOU với các đối tác Mỹ về chuyển đổi số, năng lượng bền vững - Kinhtedothi
ASEAN Member States Create Collective Effort to Gain Benefits of Gene Editing - ISAAA Inc.
AVIA announces Vietnam in View conference - Indian Television
UNGA 79 Recap: Southeast Asia’s Diplomatic Dispatch - Asia Society
USIP Dialogue Sheds Light on Vietnam-U.S. Postwar Reconciliation Efforts - VOV
Vietnam takes part in dialogue on war legacies, peace in US - VietnamPlus
Thailand seeks GSP renewal, digital investment in talks with US - The Nation
Minister, US envoy talk tariffs, investment - Bangkok Post
Myanmar hosts 46th ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture & Forestry Meeting - Global New Light of Myanmar
Citi sees potential for Philippine credit rating upgrade - Manila Bulletin
PH within radar of US firms - Malaya Business Insight
HCMC - NY Fall Forum 2024: New opportunities for US collaboration - Saigon News
