USABC Board Engages with Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh Amidst 30th Anniversary Celebrations of U.S.-Vietnam Diplomatic Relations
(Hanoi, July 11) – From July 9-11, the US-ASEAN Business Council’s Board of Directors convened in Hanoi to meet with several senior Vietnamese business and government leaders amidst celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of US-Vietnam diplomatic relations, and following recent trade negotiations with the U.S. administration. The delegation’s visit culminated in a meeting with Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and members of his cabinet on Friday July 11, where USABC board directors discussed a wide range of trade, investment, and commercial interests. Companies applauded Vietnam on its several structural reforms and progress toward cultivating an investor-friendly market – Increasingly driven by science, technology and innovation.
“Vietnam is the fastest-growing economy in ASEAN, a top trade partner of the United States, and a critical market for many of our members. Its economic performance is driving ASEAN’s growth and its relevance on the global trade landscape is one of the reasons why we felt it was timely and significant to convene our board members here and now” said Brian McFeeters, CEO, US-ASEAN Business Council.
The USABC Board meeting also marked an official transition of leadership at USABC with Amb. Brian McFeeters stepping into the role of President and CEO based in Washington DC, and Amb. Ted Osius relocating to Ho Chi Minh City to continue growing the Council’s footprint in Vietnam in his new capacity as Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director.
“Having served in Vietnam in my diplomatic career, I am excited to return to Vietnam in my new role at USABC as SVP and Regional Managing Director and expand our footprint in Ho Chi Minh City. I look forward to working closely with governments across the region to build a next chapter of growth, sustainability, and shared success in the US-ASEAN relationship.”
The Board’s activities in Hanoi also included a reception on July 10 celebrating the private sector’s contributions toward US-Vietnam relations, and a U.S. Embassy briefing with Ambassador Marc Knapper. The reception included several prominent figures from the diplomatic and business community including Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh, President of Vietnam USA Society, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Marc Knapper, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam, and Mr. Nguyen Viet Cuong, Deputy CEO of Vietcombank.
The Council supports the interests of over 180 member companies by providing advocacy, thought leadership, research, education, intelligence, and building key business relationships. Worldwide, the Council's members generate over $7 trillion in revenue and employ more than 13 million people.
Companies on USABC’s Board of Directors include: Warburg Pincus, Jhpiego, SC Johnson, ExxonMobil, Google, UPS, 3M, Abbott, AIG, Amazon, Boeing, BowerGroupAsia, Brunswick Group, Chubb, Citi, Corteva Agrisciences, Expedia, FedEx, Ford, IBM, Intel, KKR, Manulife, Marriott International, Meta, Odgers, Pfizer, Qualcomm, Solventum, TE Connectivity, Ultrapass, Visa, and Zuellig Pharmaceutical.