US-ASEAN Business Council Hosts Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry of Malaysia for Fireside Chat

(Washington, D.C.) On June 18, the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) held a fireside chat with H.E. Tengku Zafrul bin Tengku Abdul Aziz, Malaysia's Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), at the Embassy of Malaysia. Minister Zafrul was accompanied by top leadership within MITI as well as executives from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) and the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE). 

Our timely and insightful engagement with Minister Zafrul offered attendees a unique opportunity to hear from Minister Zafrul immediately following his meeting with the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and the U.S. Department of Commerce on June 18. In the fireside chat, held between Minister Zafrul and USABC’s Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer, Mr. Marc Mealy, the Minister shared updates on Malaysia’s concerted efforts to negotiate with the United States, with the aim to ensure that mutual investment can continue to flourish. This exclusive session went on to allow for open Q&A with U.S. private sector representatives. ​ 

After the fireside chat, USABC soft-launched its White Paper, titled “Driving ASEAN Unity: Malaysia’s Vision for 2025," and shared an executive summary of the report with Minister Zafrul. The White Paper offers strategic recommendations across five critical areas to support Malaysia's 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship: the digital economy, talent acquisition, healthcare, sustainability, and the energy transition. An upcoming official launch event is to be held in Kuala Lumpur. ​