US-ASEAN Business Council

Check out our programming schedule for September!

The US-ASEAN Business Council has presented to the Philippine government a report outlining the training and upskilling initiatives undertaken by its member companies. These initiatives, designed to significantly enhance the skills and employability of Filipinos, target more than 100,000 members of the workforce, students, and other societal groups, and cover a wide range of fields such as cloud computing, AI, cybersecurity, data analytics, financial literacy, business management, and vocational training. Read the full press release here: https://lnkd.in/dZc8wF47

On August 29, 2024, USABC organized a half-day Cybersecurity Workshop on “Advancing a Cybersecure Digital Domain Through Industry Co-creation” in Jakarta, Indonesia.    We were grateful to have Lieutenant-General TNI (ret.) Hinsa Siburian, Chairman of the National Cyber and Crypto Agency grace our Workshop as the Guest-of-Honor, and hear from Ms. Heather Merritt, Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy in Jakarta and Dr. ashwin sasongko, S M.Sc, Executive Member, National Information and Communication Technology Council (WANTIKNAS) on their views towards Indonesia’s cybersecurity policy landscape.     The Workshop was then capped off with two dialogue sessions moderated by Mario Masaya, with the following panelists: Mr. sigit kurniawan, from National Cyber and Crypto Agency, Dr. ashwin sasongko, S M.Sc, WANTIKNAS, Mr. Josh McCloud from Cisco, Mr. Firlie Ganinduto from the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), and Mr. Aris P. from Amazon Web Services (AWS).   Our participants included representatives from: Bank Indonesia, Ministry of Communications and Informatics, National Cyber and Crypto Agency, U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, U.S. Mission to ASEAN, U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), USAID, Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), National Information and Communications Technology Council (WANTIKNAS), Collaboration on Research and Innovation of Indonesian Artificial Intelligence Industry (KORIKA).    A big thank you again to our Workshop partners, USABC’s #ICT committee chair Cisco and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) Development Agency, and all participants for making our inaugural Cybersecurity Workshop a productive one!   

On the sidelines of a series of engagements in Jakarta, Brian McFeeters had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Bernardino Vega, Alternate Chair of ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC) Indonesia and Deputy General Chairperson for International Relations, KADIN Indonesia, on Friday, August 30. Mr. Diono Nurjadin, KADIN Indonesia Permanent Chairperson of the U.S. Committee, Mr. ⁠Adri Martowardojo, KADIN Indonesia U.S. Committee, and colleagues from the ASEAN-BAC Secretariat also joined the meeting. They discussed collaboration opportunities between USABC and ASEAN BAC, focusing on critical sectors such as energy, health, and the green and sustainable economy to strengthen dialogue with ASEAN stakeholders. The meeting also included an exchange of insights on the development of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (#DEFA) and perspectives on Malaysia's 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship plans.

From August 27 to 28, 2024, the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) organized a Digital Economy Mission to Indonesia. The delegation was comprised of 13 companies and was co-led by Amb. Brian McFeeters (ret.), Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director of USABC, and Mr. Seow Hiong Goh, Executive Director of Global Policy & Government Affairs in the Asia Pacific region for Cisco Systems, Inc. and Chair of USABC’s #ICT Committee. The engagement served as a critical platform to foster public-private dialogue on a range of digital issues, including best practices and opportunities related to cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, cloud regulation, and data governance.    Press Release: https://lnkd.in/gSnfRheV

Watch our reel from the 75th U.S.-Indonesia Anniversary Business Forum!

On August 26, in celebration of 75 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and Indonesia, the US-ASEAN Business Council, together with the Embassy of Indonesia in Washington, D.C., Bank Indonesia New York Representative Office, and the Indonesia Investment Promotion Center in New York, held a business forum entitled “Elevating Indonesia-U.S. Economic Relations under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.” The forum provided a platform to discuss bilateral economic ties in the post-Jokowi era, particularly in the renewable energy, digital economy, critical minerals, and manufacturing sectors.  In her keynote address, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia Retno Marsudi emphasized the significance of the United States as one of Indonesia’s leading economic partners, highlighted by her visit to Washington D.C. to bolster economic cooperation and people-to-people ties. Minister Marsudi called on the United States for more investment and fewer trade barriers, specifically in the areas of supply chains, green growth, and inclusivity. President and CEO of the US-ASEAN Business Council Ted Osius, Ambassador (ret.) remarked that “the United States cherishes its enduring relationship with Indonesia, and the U.S. business community is encouraged by the ever-strengthening economic and trade ties between our countries. The Council looks forward to continuing its collaboration with the Government of Indonesia to create new business opportunities and pursue sustainable and inclusive development.”  The business forum was generously supported by US-ASEAN Business Council members Apple, the Walt Disney Company, Freeport-McMoRan, and Visa.  Read the full press release here: https://lnkd.in/ggfwpitR

At the US-ASEAN Business Council's 40th Anniversary Gala, Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore Heng Swee Keat remarked that “the partnership that the U.S. and ASEAN enjoy today has been significantly strengthened by the enduring support of the U.S. business community in deepening both bilateral and regional economic ties. The US-ASEAN Business Council reflects the optimism that the U.S. business community sees in ASEAN. We hope that U.S. businesses, who have benefitted greatly from opportunities in the Southeast Asian market, continue to advocate strongly for greater trade and economic connectivity between the U.S. and ASEAN.” Read Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat's full speech here: https://lnkd.in/ddGc5PY3

Free trade and investment is a powerful enabler for countries, big and small, to meet the aspirations of their peoples for a better life. For many years, US advocacy for trade and investment has helped to uphold an open, rules-based international order and support economic growth and development in many parts of the world, including in Asia and ASEAN.   Delighted to join the US business community here in Singapore and Southeast Asia to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) earlier this week. Since 1984, USABC has played a pivotal role in enhancing trade and economic connectivity between the US and our region, strengthening the overall US-ASEAN partnership through closer business, trade, and investment linkages. Today, the US is ASEAN’s second largest trading partner and the largest source of foreign direct investment into the region. Trade and investment with ASEAN supports more than 625,000 jobs across the US.   2024 also marks the 20th anniversary of the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement which USABC strongly supported. It was wonderful reconnecting with old friends who Singapore worked with closely on the FTA, including former USABC President Ernie Bower who received the USABC Founder’s Award this year.   USABC’s continued engagement across ASEAN reflects the optimism that US businesses see in our region. There are many new growth opportunities to be unlocked in the years ahead. By working together, we can demonstrate the value of win-win collaborations, deepen transformation, and deploy impactful innovation to build a healthier, more resilient and more sustainable future for all.    (MDDI Photos by Timothy David)

Press Release: US-ASEAN Business Council Hosts 40th Anniversary Gala Celebration in Singapore (Singapore) On August 19, the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) hosted its 40th Anniversary Gala Celebration in Singapore, the first major gala held in the region since 2017. The event, with over 250 attendees, featured remarks from Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore Heng Swee Keat, U.S. Ambassador to ASEAN Yohannes Abraham, Ambassador-at-large Chan Heng Chee, and a fireside chat with former Minister of Finance of Indonesia Dr. Chatib Basri. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gZthGJk5