Please join the US-ASEAN Business Council Institute (USABCI), a 501(c)(3) organization that serves as the charitable arm of the US-ASEAN Business Council, for an evening reception in support of the Myanmar Scholarship Fund, featuring remarks from former Congressman Tom Malinowski (D-NJ), who served as Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor in the Obama Administration; and Amb. Derek Mitchell, President of the National Democratic Institute, patron of the scholarship fund, and former U.S. Ambassador to Myanmar. In light of a myriad of challenges stemming from the February 2021 military coup, Myanmar's political, humanitarian, and economic crises has worsened day by day. The USABCI Myanmar Scholarship Fund aims to alleviate financial hardships currently confronted by Myanmar students enrolled in accredited U.S. universities during this difficult time. The Fund will run from 2022-2024.  Since its launch in April 2022, the Fund has raised more than US$1.15 million and supported 55 Myanmar students complete or continue their higher education journeys last academic year. This year, the Fund is aiming to sponsor up to 80 students and seeking additional sponsorships. The event is Free of Charge to attend but there will be a silent auction and options for folks to contribute to the scholarship fund.    Myanmar today faces significant challenges, but that does not eliminate the tremendous long-term potential it holds through its most valuable resource – its people.  There is no better way for the U.S. private sector to exhibit its long-term commitment to Myanmar than by investing in the security and education of its youth – the country’s hopeful future. Please contact Jack Myint at jmyint@usasean.org with any questions on this upcoming reception or contributing to the scholarship fund.

Please join the US-ASEAN Business Council's Myanmar Committee for a private, off-the-record virtual discussion featuring Vicky Bowman, Director of the Myanmar Center for Responsible Business (MCRB) and former UK Ambassador to Myanmar.  Since the Council's re-entry into the Myanmar market in 2011, we have considered Ms. Bowman and MCRB as key pillars of the business community, whose work and efforts have enabled better business practices in-line with international human rights, environmental, and labor standards in Myanmar's nascent economy. After the Myanmar military's February 2021 coup, the landscape and prospects for foreign investments in Myanmar changed dramatically. Despite these hurdles, Ms. Bowman and MCRB kept their work and course steady by helping navigate businesses through chaos and uncertainty.  In August 2022, Ms. Bowman and her husband were arrested on bogus immigration charges by the military junta. In November 2022, they were released on general amnesty, alongside other prominent political prisoners including Dr. Sean Turnell, Special Economic Advisor to State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, who had been in jail for nearly two years.  This is a unique opportunity for members and friends of the Council to hear directly from Ms. Bowman on her assessment of Myanmar's political and economic trajectory, as well as to have a frank and private discussion on the state of foreign investments in Myanmar, moving forward. Please contact Jack Myint at jmyint@usasean.org with any questions or concerns.

Hla Hpone “Jack” Myint serves as Deputy Director for Mainland Southeast Asia and as Director for Myanmar; Cambodia; Laos PDR; Aerospace, Defense and Security; and Public Relations at the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) headquarters based in Washington, DC. He also serves as Founding Director of the USABC Institute’s Myanmar Scholarship Fund, which is raising US$6 million between 2022-24 to support disenfranchised Myanmar students studying in the United States.

Gretchen Kunze joined the Council in February 2023 as Director for the Health and Life Sciences portfolio. She also serves as Executive Director of the US ICT Council for Myanmar, an affiliate of the US-ABC. Gretchen has spent over 20 years living and working in Asia in international development, designing and leading programs focused on governance and democracy building, economic growth, digital development, policy reform, and civic engagement.

Tomomi Takeda joined the US-ASEAN Business Council as an Executive Assistant to the Chief Representative – Laos, Myanmar, Thailand. Prior to joining the Council, she was a member of several event organizing teams which gave her a wealth of experience in management and organization.