Jakarta, 31 July 2025: ERIA and the US–ASEAN Business Council (USABC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance regional co-operation and strengthen their partnership.

The signing ceremony opened with remarks from ERIA President Tetsuya Watanabe, who highlighted the strong complementarities between the two organisations. Ambassador (Ret.) Ted Osius, Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director of USABC, stressed the importance of closer collaboration between the US private sector and ERIA in supporting ASEAN’s inclusive and sustainable development agenda.

The MoU was signed by Dr Takayuki Yamanaka, Chief Operating Officer of ERIA, and Ambassador Osius. It identifies potential areas of co-operation, including healthcare, digitalisation, sustainability, and food and agriculture. Key provisions include:

• Supporting evidence-based policymaking by leveraging the expertise of both institutions;
• Enhancing data and knowledge sharing; and
• Promoting regional dialogue and collaboration on development issues aligned with ASEAN priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The agreement also aims to generate new insights through rigorous research, strengthen capacity building, and encourage the formulation of equitable policies that address the needs of vulnerable groups. By combining their respective strengths, ERIA and USABC seek to provide strategic support, foster innovation, and address regional challenges while unlocking opportunities to accelerate ASEAN’s sustainable and inclusive growth.