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For Immediate Release
November 12, 2009
Contact:
Anthony Nelson
Communications Manager,
(202) 416-6708
anelson@usasean.org
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US-ASEAN Business Council Members Reaffirm Commitment to ASEAN during APEC
(Singapore) The US-ASEAN Business Council kicked off its participation in APEC 2009 as co-chair of the US-APEC Business Coalition last night with a private dinner for member companies with ASEAN Secretary General Dr. Surin Pitsuwan. This morning, the Council held a breakfast meeting with Senior Minister and Former Prime Minister of Singapore H.E. Goh Chok Tong, followed by a meeting of its board of directors. Council members reaffirmed their commitment to ASEAN as key to the future prosperity of the United States.
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“ASEAN purchased US$68.4 billion of American exports in 2008,” said Council President Alexander Feldman. “The average ASEAN consumer purchases twice as many U.S. exports last year as the average Chinese consumer, and nearly eight and one half times as many as the average Indian consumer. ASEAN is important to American companies’ bottom-line, and they are showing it by their participation in the Council.”
"We feel very bullish about the tremendous opportunities for business growth unfolding across the ASEAN region," said Glenn Jordan, President, Pacific Group, The Coca-Cola Company. “The US-ASEAN Business Council will remain a central part of how The Coca-Cola Company pursues success in the rapidly growing markets of Southeast Asia.”
The Council Board meeting took place before the start of the APEC CEO Summit, which the Council is helping to organize as co-chair of the US-APEC Business Coalition. Council members sponsoring the coalition include Chevron, Citi, The Coca-Cola Company, Dow, Oracle, and UPS.
The US-APEC Business Coalition will hold bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Najib of Malaysia, Prime Minister Abhisit of Thailand, USTR Ron Kirk, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, and Co-Chair of the U.S. House of Representatives APEC Caucus co-chair Kevin Brady. On Saturday the 14th, the Council will participate in the launch of the book “Realizing the ASEAN Community: A Comprehensive Assessment”, a comprehensive examination of the significant benefits to be gained by realizing the ASEAN Economic Community.
The Council recently celebrated its 25th anniversary with the presentation of the Council’s first Lifetime Achievement Award to H.E. Lee Kuan Yew, Minister Mentor and First Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, in Washington, D.C. During the Council’s 25 years of engagement with the region, US-ASEAN trade has increased nearly seven-fold to approximately $US180 billion in 2008.
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The US-ASEAN Business Council and affiliates are dedicated to strengthening bilateral and US ASEAN relations and building strong economic and commercial ties. Members of the Council include Fortune 1000 companies in support of promoting trade, investment, and technology cooperation, advancing US ASEAN relations through strong participation in public-private partnerships, and committing to development and corporate social responsibility. The Council's members are represented in diverse industries, including aerospace, agribusiness, automobiles, computers and information technology, consumer goods, energy exploration and development, express delivery services, financial services, health care and pharmaceuticals, media & entertainment, mining, software, and telecommunications.
For information on the US-ASEAN Business Council or general information visit www.us-asean.org.
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