Public-private collaboration emphasised health, environment, and energy resilience in ASEAN
The US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) convened its annual ASEAN Business Mission on 2 December 2024 at the ASEAN Secretariat headquarters in Jakarta. Centred on the theme “Advancing Sustainable Development in the Health, Environment, and Energy Sectors for Resilient Growth in ASEAN,” the mission underscored the pivotal role of public-private partnerships in addressing regional sustainability priorities.
Led by USABC Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director Ambassador (ret.) Brian McFeeters, the delegation engaged with high-level ASEAN stakeholders, including H.E. Satvinder Singh, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for the ASEAN Economic Community, representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC), the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to ASEAN, and the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA).
The discussions focused on actionable solutions to strengthen health systems, promote environmental resilience, and accelerate the transition to renewable energy—a cornerstone of ASEAN’s digital transformation goals. Topics included sustainable health financing, preventive healthcare, circular economy adoption, ecosystem resilience, transparency through sustainability reporting standards, modernising grid infrastructure, and leveraging carbon pricing and trading mechanisms to drive low-carbon growth.
Ambassador McFeeters remarked, “Sustainability is central to ASEAN’s long-term development. From resilient healthcare systems to clean energy and environmental stewardship, advancing sustainability in these sectors is crucial to achieving inclusive and resilient growth across the region. Our delegation also thanked Deputy Secretary-General Singh for his continued strong role in ASEAN Member States’ negotiations toward a Digital Economic Framework Agreement.”
Notable member companies participating in this year’s mission included Amazon, Coca-Cola, Expedia, and Micron. The delegation reaffirmed its commitment to supporting ASEAN’s transition toward a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable future through innovative policies and regional integration.
