US-ASEAN Business Council Launches White Paper on Supporting Malaysia’s Vision as ASEAN Chair in 2025
(Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) The US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC), in collaboration with Social & Economic Research Initiative (SERI), officially launched its latest white paper, “Driving ASEAN Unity: Malaysia’s Vision for 2025,” on July 10, 2025.
The event, officiated by YB Liew Chin Tong, Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) of Malaysia, brought together more than 90 participants from government, industry, and research institutes as a platform to explore Malaysia’s role as the 2025 ASEAN Chair across five key priority areas: Digital Economy, Workforce Development, Sustainability, Healthcare, and Energy Transition.
The launch highlighted the private sector’s support for a united, responsive, and investment-friendly ASEAN. The event served as a forum for dialogue on the priorities outlined in the white paper, which include strengthening regional economic frameworks, scaling up green growth, and investing in a robust digital economy for the future of ASEAN.
In his keynote remarks, YB Liew Chin Tong emphasized ASEAN’s long-term vision to become a predominantly middle-class society by 2045, with the potential for 300–400 million people across the region to lead middle-class communities. “ASEAN must not only be a global production base but also a consumer society,” he stated. To achieve this, he highlighted the need to ensure better wages and create value-added opportunities, areas where the U.S. private sector can play a significant role in shaping a more prosperous ASEAN.
The launch also featured a high-level panel discussion, moderated by Ms. Cynthia Gabriel from the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism, with participation from senior officials and industry representatives, including DM Analytics’ Managing Director and Chief Economist Dr. Muhammed Abdul Khalid, Google’s Manager of Government Affairs and Public Policy (Indonesia and Malaysia) Ms. Arianne Santoso, and TalentCorp’s Group Chief Strategy Officer Mr. Nazrul Aziz.
“This is not just about launching a report; it is about deepening collaboration, igniting conversation, and laying down a shared vision for ASEAN’s future,” said Tina Jamaluddin, USABC's Chief Country Representative for Malaysia. “Let’s continue working together to drive ASEAN unity forward."
The US-ASEAN Business Council remains committed to supporting Malaysia’s leadership and working closely with government and private sector stakeholders to implement forward-looking initiatives in the lead-up to and throughout ASEAN 2025. The white paper was developed through extensive consultations with USABC members and reflects the shared ambition to make ASEAN more integrated, inclusive, and resilient in the years ahead.