USABC Leads Delegation of ASEAN Ambassadors to Ohio, Minnesota, and California

From August 10 to 14, the US-ASEAN Business Council led a diplomatic delegation representing nine ASEAN Member States on the annual ASEAN Ambassadors' Tour to Ohio, Minnesota, and California. The delegation met with senior business executives and participated in a series of business and cultural engagements that highlighted the breadth of American innovation and importance of people-to-people ties.

In Canton, Ohio, Bitdeer hosted a series of engagements, including a site visit to Bitdeer’s Massillon bitcoin mining facilities, a roundtable with the Ohio Blockchain Council at the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, and a luncheon to discuss Southeast Asia-Ohio investment partnerships and digital infrastructure developments. The luncheon convened local elected officials and economic development leaders—including Mayor of Massillon Jamie Slutz, Ohio State Representative Adam Holmes, and representatives from JobsOhio, the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association, and TeamNEO.

In the Twin Cities area, Minnesota, the delegation toured member company facilities, including 3M's Innovation Center and Solventum's R&D facilities. During these site visits, the delegation discussed emerging trends in healthcare, health innovation, energy, supply chains, and manufacturing. The delegation also engaged with other members of the local business community. ​

In Los Gatos, California, the delegation toured Netflix's headquarters and discussed Southeast Asia's creative economy and the growth of screen tourism, which marked the official launch of the Council's Entertainment Working Group. In San Francisco, California, the delegation’s engagements focused on the transformative role that emerging technologies play in Southeast Asia. Planet Labs hosted the delegation for a presentation, visit to the Planet Museum, and dinner and discussion on the role of satellite imagery in the region. The U.S. Department of Commerce then hosted the delegation at the National AI Center for a series of roundtables with local companies, featuring remarks from Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce Brandon Remington and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce Kelly Coldiron. The ASEAN Ambassadors’ Tour concluded with a tour of Atmo’s headquarters, featuring a discussion of AI-driven weather forecasting, and a dinner engagement with tech leaders and entrepreneurs. ​

“USABC member companies appreciate engaging directly with Ambassadors from dynamic ASEAN countries,” said Ambassador Brian McFeeters (ret.), President and CEO of the US-ASEAN Business Council. “I hope that this week’s conservations will serve as starting points for new partnerships and initiatives between the United States and Southeast Asia in key strategic areas.” ​

The 2026 ASEAN Ambassadors’ Tour was made possible through the partnership of Atmo, Bitdeer, Solventum, 3M, Netflix, and Planet Labs.