Asean economic ministers roadshow engages with US business

The second US-Asean Economic Ministers Roadshow concluded on Thursday with a gala dinner in Washington, DC. It was organised by the US-Asean Business Council in cooperation with the United States Trade Representative, the US Department of State, and the US Department of Commerce.

The delegation was led by the representative of Asean chairman Brunei, Pehin Lim, second minister of foreign affairs and trade, and included Pan Sorasak, Cambodian vice minister of commerce; Bayu Khrisnamurti, Indonesian vice minister of trade; Dr Nam Viyaketh, Laotian minister of industry and commerce; Mustapa Mohamed, Malaysian minister of international trade and industry; Dr Kan Zaw, Myanmar minister of national planning and economic development; Ow Foong Pheng, permanent secretary of the Singapore Department of Trade and Industry; Sin Kumpha, Thai vice minister of commerce; Nguyen Cam Tu, Vietnamese vice minister of international trade; and Lim Hong Hin, deputy secretary-general of Asean. 

 “Asean has risen to much greater prominence, both globally and in Washington, since the roadshow was first proposed in 2009,” said Alexander Feldman, president of the US-Asean Business Council. “US businesses have taken notice, and today Asean hosts the largest US foreign-direct-investment commitment in Asia. 

“The roadshow aims to build on the momentum in the US-Asean relationship by helping the ministers build real connections to US businesses both large and small, and continuing to raise awareness of Asean in the US.”

 

Site visits 

 

During the visit, the delegation engaged a number of different industries, with discussions and site visits with global leaders in the knowledge economy. The delegation held discussions focused on creative industries and the media led by Newscorp and the Motion Picture Association of America, medical-device technology led by Covidien, high-technology manufacturing led by the Semi-Conductor Industry Association, product manufacturing and standards harmonisation led by Mattell, and information and communications technology led by Google and Microsoft.  

The delegation also visited the Port of Los Angeles and discussed US customs and port procedures.

It also engaged local government during its stops in California, conducting dialogues with San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed among others. 

By engaging with local government and civic leaders, the roadshow was able to raise awareness of Asean’s importance to the US. 

Exports to Asean already support almost half a million US jobs, and these numbers are expected to grow as Asean continues to integrate economically and expand its economies. US-Asean trade is up 60 per cent since 2002, as Asean has risen to become the United States’ fifth-largest trading partner and fourth-largest export market.

The tour was led by Feldman, acting US Deputy Secretary of Commerce Patrick Gallagher, and Assistant USTR for Southeast Asia Barbara Weisel.

Council members that sponsored the tour and gala dinner included Covidien, Chevron, Philip Morris International, ACE, AIG, CV Starr & Co, The Coca-Cola Company, Fluor, Google, Mattel, Newscorp, Procter & Gamble, and UL.