April 18, 2000: US-ASEAN Business Council Delegation Meets with Malaysian Cabinet Officials, Commits to Tourism and Other High Priority Initiatives

US-ASEAN Business Council Delegation Meets with Malaysian Cabinet Officials, Commits to Tourism and Other High Priority Initiatives

A US-ASEAN Business Council delegation of forty-seven (47) senior executives from twenty-four (24) US companies has been meeting with Malaysian Cabinet officials and business leaders for the past two days to discuss how American business can help advance the country's economic priorities. Led by Michael Stephen, Chairman of Aetna International and Chairman of the US-Malaysia Business Committee of the US-ASEAN Business Council, the delegation heard from Malaysian officials about their focus on promoting Tourism, Human Resource Development, and High Technology / Small-Medium Enterprise Development in Malaysia. Mr. Stephen presented a number of initiatives addressing these key areas in a meeting today with YB Dato Seri Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamed.

Most notably, Mr. Stephen announced the launch of an ongoing cooperative effort between the Ministry of Culture, Arts, and Tourism and the American business community, spearheaded by delegation members American Express and Starwood Hotels and Resorts. Mr. Stephen said "As a result of our productive meetings yesterday with officials from the Ministry of Culture, Arts, and Tourism, US companies in the Travel and Tourism industry will begin serving as a resource supporting the Ministry's efforts to promote the splendid scenic attractions and tourist facilities of Malaysia, with an emphasis on the US market." A steering committee of interested US companies will be established to coordinate discussions with the Ministry on planning and implementation of proposals.

Mr. Stephen, who also serves as the US Co-Chair of the Malaysia-US Business Council (MUSBC), outlined to the Prime Minister plans for, and progress on, other initiatives discussed in this morning's meeting with Malaysian members of the MUSBC. US-ASEAN Business Council President Ernest Z. Bower noted: "There is much unrealized potential in the Malaysia-US bilateral relationship. Only through constructive partnership can we achieve this potential for mutually beneficial growth and prosperity. US business stands ready to bring forth new ideas, capital, and technology in support of this vision. We intend to work together with our Malaysian counterparts to help develop the knowledge workers of the future in Malaysia."

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The US-ASEAN Business Council serves as the US Secretariat of the Malaysian-US Business Council, a coalition of senior executives from the US and Malaysian Private Sectors that have agreed to meet on an annual basis to discuss and develop joint initiatives that foster the bilateral political and economic relationship between their two countries.

The US-ASEAN Business Council is the premier national private organization in the United States representing private sector interests in ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. With nearly two decades of building strategic alliances and working relationships with the ASEAN government and private sector leaders, the Council, through its corporate members, impacts trade and investment policy to expand the U.S. competitive position in the region through powerful bilateral policy committees for each country in ASEAN.

For more information on the mission, please contact Remy Nathan at remy@usasean.org

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