The U.S.-ASEAN Business Leaders Series is a flagship forum that brings together government officials, business leaders, and policy experts from the United States and ASEAN. The series fosters dialogue on trade, investment, and technology, with the goal of strengthening economic ties, expanding collaboration into new areas, and advancing sustainable U.S.–ASEAN partnerships.
MOU Exchange with Hanoi People’s Committee and Roundtable with Industry
Industry Briefing – Digital Future Forum
2025 ASEAN Autumn Reception on the sidelines of the World Bank/IMF Fall Meetings
Policy White Paper Launch: Open RAN for ASEAN
US-Vietnam 30th Years of Diplomatic Relations: The Role of Public Private Partnerships
U.S.-ASEAN Roundtable: Fostering Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in Southeast Asia
ICT Infrastructure and Cybersecurity in ASEAN’s Digital Economy
The US-ASEAN Center supported the MOU exchange between ASU and Ha Noi People's Committee, starting a five-year a strategic partnership in semiconductor and microelectronics education, research, and workforce development. This agreement marks an important step in strengthening U.S.–Viet Nam collaboration in high-technology sectors and advancing Ha Noi’s vision to become a critical hub for semiconductor innovation. The MOU creates a structured framework for cooperation across universities, government agencies, and industry partners, supporting workforce acceleration, joint research initiatives, and the exploration of a greenfield university project at Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park powered by ASU.
Following the signing ceremony, ASU convened an industry roundtable with leading U.S. semiconductor and microelectronics companies such as Intel, onsemi, EMD Electronics, Honeywell, and Amkor Technology, Inc. The discussion focused on aligning education and research pathways with U.S. industry standards, strengthening secure and trusted supply chains, and identifying practical next steps for ecosystem collaboration.
The US-ASEAN Center in partnership with Nongsa Digital Park, hosted an executive-level virtual briefing brought together senior leaders from the U.S. and Indonesian governments, industry experts and academia. The forum focused on the transformative power of secure digital integration, artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced manufacturing as catalysts for the region's next phase of economic development.
Key highlights included:
The U.S.-ASEAN Center hosted the 2025 ASEAN Autumn Reception on the sidelines of the World Bank/IMF Fall Meetings in Washington D.C., in collaboration with our partners at the US-ASEAN Business Council.
The reception brought together representatives from ASEAN embassies, the private sector, think tanks, and academia fostering meaningful dialogue and collaboration on the future of U.S.-ASEAN relations, especially in the lead-up to the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur later this month. Director Anh Hoang of the U.S.-ASEAN Center delivered remarks highlighting the deepening U.S.-ASEAN partnership and underscoring the importance of sustained cooperation as the region prepares for the ASEAN Leaders Summit and welcomes Timor-Leste as the 11th member of ASEAN.
The U.S.-ASEAN Center, in collaboration with the Open RAN Policy Coalition (ORPC) and the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC), hosted the official launch of the ASEAN Open RAN Adoption Whitepaper, authored by ORPC. This high-level event brought together representatives from embassies of ASEAN, Australia, Japan, India, and the United States, alongside leading industry executives and technical experts. The roundtable discussed the potential of Open RAN technologies to advance regional priorities in digital infrastructure development, strengthen supply chain resilience, and expand rural connectivity. The policy whitepaper shared insights from a forward-looking roadmap for accelerating Open RAN adoption across Southeast Asia and explore the technology's growing role in supporting secure, interoperable, and globally integrated digital networks.
The US-ASEAN Center, in collaboration with the Embassy of Vietnam in the U.S. and the US-ASEAN Business Council, hosted a special two-part panel event in Washington, D.C. to commemorate 30 years of U.S.-Vietnam diplomatic relations. Titled “The Role of Public-Private Partnerships in Advancing Bilateral Relations,” the event explored the evolution and future of U.S.-Vietnam economic and trade ties, with a spotlight on the transformative role of American private sector investment and public-private partnerships in Vietnam’s development. The event featured keynote remarks by Vietnam Ambassador H.E. Nguyen Quoc Dzung and Deputy Assistant Secretary Andrew Herrup from the U.S. Department of State, both emphasizing the foundational role of diplomacy, business, and people-to-people engagement in the bilateral relationship. Two panel discussions brought together former U.S. and Vietnamese ambassadors—including Ambassadors Michael Michalak, Pham Quang Vinh, Ted Osius, and Daniel Kritenbrink—as well as business leaders from Citi, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Intel, and academic representatives from Arizona State University and Indiana University.
The U.S.-ASEAN Center and the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council Institute co-hosted a roundtable discussion and networking reception under the theme Fostering Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in Southeast Asia.
The event brought together senior representatives from the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) Malaysia, U.S. and ASEAN government officials, business leaders, and academic experts to explore trade and investment priorities during Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship.
Keynote remarks from Tan Sri Nazir Razak, Chairman of ASEAN-BAC Malaysia, and Mr. Syed Farizal Aminy Syed Mohamad, Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of Malaysia, emphasized ASEAN’s 2025 economic deliverables and enhanced public-private collaboration. Discussions focused on aligning business strategies with Malaysia’s chairmanship priorities and navigating Southeast Asia’s evolving economic landscape.
The U.S.-ASEAN Center, in partnership with the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council Institute (USABCI), hosted a high-level panel discussion on March 31, 2025, focusing on the urgent cybersecurity and ICT infrastructure challenges facing ASEAN’s digital economy.
Opening remarks were delivered by Marc Mealy (USABC) and Anh Hoang (U.S.-ASEAN Center), with moderation by Mario Masaya (USABC).
Panelists emphasized the need for trusted cross-border data flows, harmonized regulatory compliance, and workforce development to strengthen ASEAN’s cybersecurity posture. The discussion concluded with actionable recommendations for navigating digital risks and fostering a secure, innovative, and inclusive digital future in Southeast Asia.
