The United States expects bright economic prospects for the Asean regional bloc, with the youth contributing to the achievement of opportunities.
Ambassador Daniel Shields, Charge d’Affaires of US Mission to the Asean, said the regional bloc was “critically important” for the US, noting that US investments in the Asean over the years were higher than it had invested in Japan, China, India and South Korea combined.
“So we really think the economic future of the Asean is very bright… They [Trump administration] immediately sent a signal that the Asean is really an important priority for the US, not just Asean the organization, but Southeast Asia as the region as well,” he said in an interview on the sidelines of Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Summit last week.
Shields cited the Asean Single Window (ASW) as an example of a US initiative with the regional bloc. The ASW uses electronic means to facilitate customs clearance and trade within the Asean.
He said the US, through the US Agency for International Development, provided $10 million for the ASW initiative.
“The Asean countries put up much more. We work for years on this program and is now coming to fruition to facilitate trade all around the Asean and would benefit the US companies as well because they are very active in the region,” he added.