US-ASEAN Business Council Brings American Defense Industry Delegation to Vietnam

(Hanoi) On December 5-7, the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) conducted its aerospace, defense and security (ADS) industry mission to Vietnam, which took place in the lead-up to and on the sidelines of the inaugural Vietnam International Defense Expo 2022. The mission was led by Ms. Imelda Martin-Hum, President & CEO of I.M. Systems Group (IMSG) and Chair of the USABC’s ADS committee; Mr. Ravi Alfreds, Regional Director for Government Relations – ASEAN at Raytheon Technologies and Vice-Chair of the USABC’s ADS committee; and Amb. Michael Michalak, Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director of USABC. 

“We congratulate the Government of Vietnam on hosting its first-ever international defense expo, and for the leadership it has exhibited in the regional security landscape through this important forum”, said Imelda Martin-Hum, President & CEO of I.M. Systems Group and Chair of the US-ASEAN Business Council’s Aerospace, Defense and Security Committee. “Our business mission signifies the U.S. defense industry’s support towards Vietnam’s, and the wider ASEAN’s, efforts to modernize and diversify defense supply chains.” 

The USABC delegation had productive engagements with Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính and senior Vietnamese government officials responsible for security and economic policy, as well as defense and technology procurement including General To Lam, Minister of Public Security and Major General Nguyen Hong Lam, Director of Planning and Investment at the Ministry of National Defense. The delegation also met with the leadership of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, HITACO, VAXUCO, ELINCO, and Viettel. On the U.S. side, the delegation met with U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper, Defense Attaché Colonel T.J. Bouchillon, and senior embassy officials, as well as a U.S. defense delegation led by Major General Jered Helwig and Brigadier General Sarah Russ of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

“USABC is proud to position ourselves as a resource and partner for Vietnam in its military modernization and technological innovation efforts”, said Amb. Michael Michalak, Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director of the US-ASEAN Business Council. “Our meetings this week were encouraging, and we look forward to exploring opportunities to help Vietnam build capacity and join regional peace and security efforts, including in maritime domain and cyberspace.”

Companies participating in the mission included IMSG, Raytheon Technologies, Boeing, Bell Textron, and Lockheed Martin.