In the seventh session of the Southeast Asia in Focus Initiative, Marc Mealy, Senior Vice President of Policy at the US-ASEAN Business Council, Dr. Fajar B. Hirawan, Researcher at the Center of International and Strategic Studies at Indonesia, and the Honorable Cindy Wee, Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) of the Embassy of Republic of Singapore, joined Javade Chaudhri, Of Counsel at Jones Day, for a conversation on how Southeast Asia is fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, along with specific perspectives from Singapore and Indonesia. Mealy highlighted the adjustments that governments made regarding strategies against the pandemic. He explained further that the region is seeing COVID-19 as an endemic situation that is something all people will live with. Dr. Hirawan gave an overview of Indonesia’s response to the virus, saying that the government adjusted well after the second pandemic wave, and higher awareness of health protocols helped raise the vaccination rate in Indonesia, providing stability in economic growth. DCM Wee explained Singapore’s response against the virus and the responsibilities of the citizens there with confronting the virus. She highlighted that Singapore’s strategy is one that will prepare the country for living with the virus. In the Q and A portion, there was discussion on how the pandemic has affected the global supply chain, how the pandemic has affected US businesses’ relations with the region, the acceleration of the development of the digital economy, and what a new normal will be for the region and the globe.

Audio and video recordings of this event can be found HERE.

SPEAKERS

Marc Mealy, Senior Vice President-Policy, US-ASEAN Business Council

Fajar B. Hirawan, Ph.D, Researcher, Department of Economics, Center for Strategic and International Studies Indonesia

The Honorable Cindy Wee, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the Republic of Singapore

MODERATOR

Javade Chaudhri, Of Counsel, Jones Day

SOUTHEAST ASIA IN FOCUS PROGRAM

As Southeast Asia continues to grow in economic, strategic, and political importance, the US-Asia Institute is delighted to host its "SOUTHEAST ASIA IN FOCUS" initiative, a series of public, standalone webinars that examines the US relationship with Southeast Asian nations and key issues affecting the region. We will bring together experts, policymakers, public and private sector representatives, academics, and diplomats to address today's most pressing topics.