Assistant Secretary Toloui Travel to Japan, the Republic of Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, Singapore, California, and New York April 22 to May 8

Assistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs Ramin Toloui traveled to Japan, the Republic of Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Singapore April 22 through May 3 to strengthen bilateral relationships and advance trade and economic opportunities with our partners.   He also encouraged public and private sector participation from across the region at the Indo-Pacific Business Forum which will take place on May 21 in Manila.

In Japan, he met with government representatives, academics, and the private sector to discuss economic security and prosperity issues, including strengthening supply chain early warning systems, G7 coordination, semiconductor supply chains, and economic resilience.

In the Republic of Korea, he met with government counterparts and private sector representatives to discuss economic security, supply chains, and semiconductors.  He also met with SK On, a large Korean battery manufacturer with investments in the United States.

In Vietnam, he discussed the semiconductor ecosystem at the Saigon Hi-Tech Park, Intel Vietnam, Vietnam National University of Ho Chi Minh City, Fulbright University Vietnam, and Marvell Technology.  The Assistant Secretary also held meetings with Vietnamese counterparts to advance the U.S.-Vietnam economic partnership, including cooperation under the CHIPS and Science Act’s International Technology Security Innovation Fund.

In the Philippines, he met with Philippine government economic officials and private sector experts to assess regional economic and investment trends, semiconductor supply chains, and efforts to promote economic resilience.  He highlighted expanding cooperation under the CHIPS and Science Act’s International Technology Security Innovation Fund and next steps to advance the Luzon Economic Corridor announced at the April 11 U.S.-Japan-Philippines Trilateral Leaders’ Summit as part of the PGI-IPEF Investment Accelerator.

In Singapore, he toured a GlobalFoundries semiconductor fabrication plant and met with the Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association on semiconductor and supply chain issues.  At the National University of Singapore, he participated in a roundtable discussion on regional issues.  In addition, he met with Singapore officials to discuss regional economic integration and sustainable finance.

His domestic engagements began in San Fransisco, California, joining Secretary Blinken and technology industry stakeholders to discuss this year’s U.S. led UN AI resolution on investment principles.  He also engaged partners on commitments on trust, safety, and security in advanced technologies, such as AI, quantum computing, and biotechnology.  In Los Angeles, California, he joined industry leaders at the Milken Global Conference to discuss areas of cooperation and opportunities between industry, academia, international organizations, and governments.  Specifically, he discussed efforts to build diversified and resilient semiconductor supply chains through strengthening public private partnerships and targeted investments to address workforce gaps across the semiconductor ecosystem.  In New York, New York, at the World Economic Forum, he met with government and private sector partners to discuss the Biden-Harris Administration’s agenda to revitalize American manufacturing and infrastructure, particularly in areas like semiconductors and clean energy.

For further information, please contact the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs Media Team at [email protected].