US-ASEAN Business Council

USABC President and CEO Ted Osius, Ambassador (ret.) joined other leading experts in contributing to the Asia Foundation’s newly released Task Force report, "Critical Issues for the United States in Southeast Asia in 2025." This comprehensive report, based on eight months of discussions, provides key recommendations for the incoming U.S. administration on critical topics including economic relations, climate change, energy, maritime security, and the promotion of democracy and good governance across Southeast Asia. Read the report here: https://lnkd.in/g4354_yA

On October 23, the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) and Delphos hosted a panel discussion and reception at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington, D.C., focused on financing infrastructure and the energy transition in Southeast Asia on the sidelines of the World Bank Group/International Monetary Fund Washington Fall Meetings week.  The panel consisted of Suzanne Gaboury, Director-General for Private Sector Operations at the Asian Development Bank (ADB); Sabine Gaber, Executive Board Member of Oesterreichische Entiwcklungsbank AG (OeEB); Paulo Martelli, Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of FinDev Canada; and Erica Ehst, Vice President for Energy at the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC). Ambassador Roya Rahmani (ret.), Chair of Delphos International, moderated the conversation. Panelists shared insights on how development banks worldwide prioritize issues and navigate challenges in financing Southeast Asia’s infrastructure development. USABC Chief Policy Officer and Senior Vice President Marc M. provided opening remarks for the panel discussion. “Given current and growing economic and population demands in Southeast Asia, financing Southeast Asia’s energy transition and infrastructure requires innovative solutions,” he said. 

On 24 October, Amb. Brian McFeeters, presented at the 46th ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (46th AMAF) Meeting, held virtually. The meeting reiterated the crucial role of innovation and regional resilience in tackling challenges in the food, agriculture, and forestry sectors, particularly in light of climate change, pandemics, and antimicrobial resistance. T he Council emphasized three key areas for collaboration under the theme ‘Harnessing Sustainability and Digital Innovation for ASEAN’s Agriculture Future,’ focusing on promoting sustainable agricultural practices, advancing the One Health Framework, and accelerating digital technology adoption across ASEAN's agriculture sector. Further, we highlighted initiatives led by our members, such as Cargill’s Smart Framing Project in Thailand, Google’s EduFarmers initiative in Indonesia, as well as Bayer’s ForwardFarming project in Vietnam.   By fostering deeper collaboration and leveraging innovative technologies, the Council aims to help transform the agricultural landscape to meet future challenges effectively while building long-term resilience.

On October 24, the US-ASEAN Business Council hosted a roundtable on the Role of International Financial Institutions in Digitalization in ASEAN, featuring Chief Fintech Officer Sopnendu Mohanty of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Director Illango Patchamuthu of The World Bank Group (WBG). During the roundtable, participants highlighted the importance of collaboration between financial institutions, governments, and the private sector to accelerate digital transformation in ASEAN, particularly in the areas of trusted digital infrastructure, digital identity, data flows, and data privacy.

The US-ASEAN Business Council was honored to host a dynamic roundtable with Secretary of Finance of the Philippines Ralph Recto and key leaders from the U.S. private sector. The event was attended by senior government officials from the Department of Finance, the Department of Budget and Management, and the National Economic Development Authority.    Held on the sidelines of the IMF/World Bank Group Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C., the discussion facilitated a valuable exchange on critical economic priorities, including fiscal strategies, investment opportunities, and shared goals for sustainable growth. The roundtable not only highlighted pressing global economic challenges but also underscored the significance of strong public-private partnerships.

This week, the Council led a delegation from Citi, S&P Global, J.P. Morgan, and PepsiCo attending the 2024 ASEAN Capital Markets Forum (ACMF) on 22-23 October 2024, in Vientiane, Lao PDR. This year marked the 20th anniversary of the ACMF and brought forth the main themes of Facilitating the Growth of the Region through Enhancing Connectivity, Sustainability and Resilience across the ASEAN Capital Markets, reaffirming commitment as partners to the ASEAN governments in strengthening financial stability and capital markets development and enhancing the US' presence and promote practical policy in regional forums, in topics such as sustainability reporting.  Sannya Joseph from S&P Global and Jeff Lundy from PepsiCo provided their insights and expertise during the ACMF International Conference on the panel of Sustainability Reporting. Aside from participating in the conference, the Council also engaged with the State Securities Commission of Vietnam (SSC) and the @Financial Services Authority of Indonesia (OJK). We would like to extend our appreciation to the ASEAN Capital Markets Forum, Lao Securities Commission Office, and Asian Development Bank (ADB) Bank for jointly organizing this year’s ACMF.

On October 18, the US-ASEAN Business Council, alongside Kadin Indonesia and the National Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN), launched “Kadin’s Industry Report and Strategic Guide: Cybersecurity for a Sustainable and Resilient Digital Indonesia” as a foundation for the country’s strengthening of national cybersecurity defenses. This report, developed in collaboration with Palo Alto Networks, Mastercard, and Google, provides a comprehensive analysis of the current cybersecurity landscape in Indonesia in various sectors such as financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, and critical infrastructures, as well as a roadmap that supports national and regional efforts. By fostering collaboration between public and private sectors, the report aims to enhance the nation’s industry cybersecurity resilience, ensuring that the urgency for effective defenses against cyber threats is addressed. Looking ahead, Indonesia’s commitment to building a comprehensive cybersecurity framework is crucial not only for safeguarding its digital economy but also for positioning the country as a regional leader in regional cybersecurity initiatives, with strong support from industry players.

On October 22, the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) 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 also marked the 40th anniversary of the founding of USABC and of AICC.     In his virtual opening remarks, Governor of Bank Indonesia Perry Warjiyo stated that “Indonesia is open for investment. With a stable macroeconomic environment, growing sectors like energy and the digital economy, and an ongoing focus on reforms, Indonesia remains an attractive destination for both U.S. companies and global investors.” He added, “Indonesia is focusing on strengthening trade relationships, particularly with key partners like the United States.” “Indonesia has become an increasingly significant player in global supply chains, and the U.S. private sector is eager to continuing to support the country’s ambitious growth targets,” said Marc M., USABC Chief Policy Officer and Senior Vice President. “We look forward to proactively engaging with the country’s new administration to harness new opportunities for bilateral economic engagement,” he added.     The roundtable was generously sponsored by Visa, the Indonesia Investment Promotion Center (IIPC), Bank Indonesia, Bank Mandiri, and Freeport McMoRan. Read the full press release here: http://prez.ly/UhWc

Ambassador Brian McFeeters, USABC’s Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director, spoke at the 24th ASEAN Energy Business Forum (AEBF-24) in Vientiane, Laos. Organized by the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) and the Ministry of Energy and Mines of Lao PDR, this annual event brought together policymakers, energy companies, investors, and experts to share insights, explore investment opportunities, and address challenges in the region’s energy landscape. This year’s theme, “ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience,” reflected Laos’ focus as ASEAN Chair. Held alongside the 2024 ASEAN Energy Ministers Meeting, the forum attracted around 1,400 participants.    Ambassador McFeeters spoke on two panels. The first panel targeted energy transitions’ financing, specifically on making blended financing work in the ASEAN context. The second panel targeted the renewable energy sector’s decarbonization, specifically on decarbonizing the renewable energy supply chain. On both panels, McFeeters made the point that USABC member companies have a lot to offer in terms of building and retrofitting power plants, investing in renewable energy, upgrading the ASEAN Power Grid, and providing efficiency-enhancing technologies.    As ASEAN member states strive to balance their energy transition ambitions with their current capacities, bankable projects—especially in decarbonization, power grid upgrades, and digitization—are gaining traction. AEBF-24 provided valuable discussions that strengthen regional energy cooperation, supporting ASEAN’s priorities for economic development and environmental sustainability. 

On 11 October 2024, the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) and the ASEAN Secretariat organized an Innovation Tour, coinciding with the 86th Meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI-86) and the 12th Meeting of the ASEAN-U.S. Consultation on Science and Technology (AUSCST-12) in Singapore. The Tour featured site visits to Mondelēz International's Innovation Center and Kitchen Lab and the U.S. Center for Dairy Excellence, managed by the U.S. Dairy Export Council, promoting both innovation with U.S dairy and industry growth in Southeast Asia through key collaborations. Participants from ASEAN Member States, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat witnessed how these leading U.S. companies are driving food innovation in ASEAN, highlighting advancements in sustainable packaging, food science, and the development of products aligned with constantly evolving consumer preferences. This Innovation Tour emphasized the significant role of U.S. industries in fostering innovation and economic growth across ASEAN’s food and beverage industry, while contributing to the region’s sustainable development. IBP Angga Antagia Christine Wan Sarah L. Jannica Tjandra Think USA Dairy