US-ABC leads first ever business mission to Myanmar

 

 

 

 

 

 

The group was led by the US-Asean Business Council and was joined by the most senior US Government economic delegation in the past 25 years.  The delegation was led by the Chairs of the Council’s Myanmar Committee Kevin Thieneman of Caterpillar and Mariano Vela of Chevron, along with Alexander Feldman, President of the US-Asean Business Council, and Frances Zwenig, President of the US-Asean Business Council Institute, Inc.

As the first US business delegation to visit the country after the formal suspension of sanctions and arriving only days after the arrival of the first US Ambassador to Myanmar since 1990, the delegates focused on exploring the business environment and gathering information on the government’s economic programs. As the mission was beginning, Council member GE moved forward with a deal to provide medical equipment to two hospitals in Yangon.

“This historic mission is the culmination of years of effort by the Myanmar government, with the support of Asean, the US government, and international business, to move toward economic and political reforms,” said Alexander Feldman, president of the US-Asean Business Council. 

“We have been very pleased by the developments of the past months which have opened the way for American companies to do business in Myanmar. But this is the beginning of the process. Both sides have much to learn about working together, so the Council intends to continue working closely with the Myanmar government to build the long term US-Myanmar business relationship.”

The delegation worked closely with the US government and held meetings in conjunction with the economic delegation led by Undersecretary of State Robert Hormats and Undersecretary of Commerce Francisco Sanchez. The delegation was also hosted by newly confirmed US Ambassador to Myanmar Derek Mitchell for his first reception in his new role.

Council members also met with representatives of NGO’s and civil society to explore ways to invest responsibly in Myanmar. Members heard from representatives of exemplary programs on humanitarian needs and the processes required in Myanmar to register NGO’s.  Before the mission The Abbott Fund, the corporate foundation of Council member Abbot, announced a $1 million partnership with the Secretary of State’s International Fund for Women and Girls to empower women in Myanmar.

The delegation visited Myan Shwe Pi (MSP) Tractors facility in Yangon to learn from their exemplary Corporate Social Responsibility programs which include free of charge engineering apprenticeships which help their local employees develop skills and continue their education.  MSP is the authorized dealer for Caterpillar in Myanmar.

Companies participating on the delegation included Chevron, Caterpillar, Abbott, ACE, Baker & McKenzie, Baxter, Boeing, Chartis, The Coca-Cola Company, ConocoPhillips, Dell, Deloitte & Touche, Dow Chemical, Emerson, ExxonMobil, Federal Express, Ford/RMA Group, Freeport McMoRan, General Atlantic, GE, General Motors, Google, Halliburton, IBM, Jhpiego, KPMG, MasterCard Worldwide, McDermott, McLarty Associates, MKW Capital, Merck/MSD, Ogilvy, PriceWaterHouse Coopers, Procter & Gamble, Qualcomm, Time Warner, TE Connectivity, and Visa.