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Launch of the 5th Edition of ASEAN Matters for America/America Matters for ASEAN
Virtual
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Wed, July 21, 2021 - 04:00 am - 05:30 am ET

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Contact
Sarah Wang

Launches of the 5th Edition of ASEAN Matters for America/America Matters for ASEAN

5th Edition

With Generous Support From

Virtual Remarks by:

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (IL)
Rep. Ami Bera (CA-7)
Rep. Young Kim (CA-39)
Rep. Steve Chabot (OH-01)
Rep. Gregory Meeks (NY – 05)
Ms. Henrietta Levin, Director for Southeast Asia and ASEAN Affairs, National Security Council
Ms. Lindsey Ford, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia
Amb. Ashok Mirpuri, Embassy of the Republic of Singapore, Washington, DC
Ms. Barbara Weisel, Managing Director at Rock Creek Global Advisors
Mr. Menassie Taddese, President, Emerging Markets, Viatris
Ms. Dorthe Mikkelsen, President Asia Pacific, MSD
Mr. Karan Bhatia, Vice President, Government Affairs & Public Policy, Google
Mr. Alexander C. Feldman, President & CEO, US-ASEAN Business Council
H.E. Michael W. Michalak, Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director, US-ASEAN Business Council
Dr. Satu P. Limaye, Vice President, East-West Center
Ms. Sharon Li-Lian Seah, Coordinator, ASEAN Studies Centre, ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute
Mr. Kurt Glaubitz, General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Asia Pacific Exploration and Production, Chevron
Mr. Russell Mahoney, Group Director Public Policy, Coca-Cola

In-Person Remarks by: 

Ms. Diane Farrell, Acting Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade
Ms. Enoh T. Ebong, Acting Director, US Trade and Development Agency
H.E. Dato Serbini Ali, Ambassador, Embassy of Brunei Darussalam in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Alex Feldman, President &CEO, US-ASEAN Business Council
Dr. Satu P. Limaye, Vice President, East-West Center
Mr. David Weller, Director of Economic & Trade Policy, Google
Mr. Chris Colwell, Executive Director, Policy, Communications and Population Health (Asia Pacific and China), MSD
Mr. Antonio Arce, Head of International Affairs for Emerging Markets & Head of Corporate Affairs for Latin America, Viatris

East-West Center in Washington · Asia Matters for America

Explore and download the 5th edition of ASEAN Matters for America/America Matters for ASEAN here

The East-West Center in Washington, the US-ASEAN Business Council, and the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, along with experts across the government and private sector, launched the 5th edition of ASEAN Matters for America / America Matters for ASEAN, the premier resource for data and analysis on the relationship between the United States and Southeast Asia, following more than 40 years of progress towards greater cooperation in matters of diplomacy, defense and security, trade and investment, and education and cultural exchange. The launch took place over two programs, a public Zoom webinar and an in-person, private reception on Capitol Hill. The webinar attracted nearly 300 viewers, with over 100 additional views on the accompanying YouTube live stream. Nearly 100 guests attended the reception.

ASEAN Matters for America/America Matters for ASEAN explores the important and multi-faceted relationship between the United States and ASEAN across diplomatic, strategic, economic, cultural, and social dimensions. This hallmark project provides a snapshot view of how the 10 member nations of ASEAN impact each of the 50 states and District of Columbia, including more than half a million jobs in the US that are directly supported by our connections with ASEAN.

In 2015, ASEAN formed the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), which is collectively the third largest economy in the Indo-Pacific and the fifth largest economy in the world. ASEAN’s economy is projected to grow by over 5.5% per year to become the fourth largest economy in the world by 2030. It is also the United States’ fourth largest export market in the world. The United States exports over $122 billion in American-made goods to ASEAN annually, with all 50 states exporting to ASEAN and 29 states exporting over $1 billion each year. This generates and supports more than 625,000 American jobs and in 13 US states, ASEAN accounts for more than 20% of export-dependent jobs to the Indo-Pacific. ASEAN as a bloc also ranks as the third largest population in the world and has a combined GDP of $3.2 trillion. ASEAN is young: more than 380 million people in the region are under the age of 35, a number roughly 20 percent larger than the entire population of the United States.

Produced by the East-West Center, the US-ASEAN Business Council, and the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, the 5th edition of ASEAN Matters for America/America Matters for ASEAN brings to light important facts and figures, including that:

  • ASEAN is the number one destination for US investment in the Indo-Pacific and has received more than $338 billion in US foreign direct investment, more than the US has invested in China, India, Japan, and South Korea combined;
  • With 915 million mobile connections, almost 1.5x ASEAN’s population, this region is the world’s fastest-growing internet market;
  • ASEAN’s digital economy is projected to exceed $300 billion by 2025;
  • ASEAN is a top five destination for US food and agricultural exports, amounting to $13.7 billion, including over $2 billion in soybeans and $1.6 billion in cotton; and
  • More than 34% of Asian Americans identify with an ASEAN ethnicity (over 7.6 million people).