U.S. Trade Mission on Healthcare Across Southeast Asia Concludes

Today, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets and Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service Arun Venkataraman completed a U.S. healthcare trade mission to Vietnam to advance bilateral cooperation in the healthcare sector, that included an important engagement with Vietnam’s Ministry of Health.

The U.S. delegation led by Assistant Secretary Venkataraman included 10 U.S. companies in healthcare, digital technologies and related products and services sectors. Participating companies had the opportunities to explore business connections and establish relationships with public and private sector leaders in Vietnam.

In Hanoi, the Assistant Secretary met with Deputy Minister Đỗ Thắng Hải of Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade, Assistant Minister Nguyễn Minh Hằng of Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Minister Phan Tâm of Vietnam’s Ministry of Information and Communication. He also held engagements with the Communist Party of Vietnam’s Central Economic Commission, the American Chambers of Commerce in Hanoi and the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council.

The visit to Vietnam is part of Assistant Secretary Venkataraman’s week-long U.S. healthcare trade mission to Southeast Asia. Prior to Vietnam, he visited Thailand and Malaysia, and made an official visit to Singapore for three days, where he met with officials to discuss topics important to the increased success of the U.S.-Singapore trade relationship, including the U.S.-Singapore Partnership for Growth and Innovation and both nations’ participation in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity—a high-standard and inclusive economic framework launched earlier this year by President Biden and his counterparts in 13 other nations.

“We learned firsthand this week about the significant healthcare needs in Southeast Asia and the strong commitment of governments in the region to meet those needs,” said Venkataraman. “We are proud that the U.S. healthcare solutions we brought on this mission—from medical tech, to digital products, to lifesaving pharmaceuticals—can play a critical role in helping governments improve their healthcare systems. The United States is committed to working with these three countries and others across Southeast Asia to build economies that meet the 21st century needs of our citizens.”