Overview

The US-ASEAN Business Council is the premier advocacy organization for U.S. corporations operating within the dynamic Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), serving as the leading voice of the U.S. private sector in promoting mutually beneficial trade and investment relationships between the United States and Southeast Asia. The Council is the only U.S.-based organization recognized in the ASEAN charter as a supporting organization of ASEAN. The Council's members include more than 180 of the most successful and innovative corporations in the world, including Apple, Boeing, Citi, The Coca-Cola Company, Google, and Microsoft. Combined, these 180+ companies generate over $9 trillion in revenue and employ more than 13 million people worldwide.

Cradled between China, India and Australia, ASEAN is the third-largest economy in the Indo-Pacific and the fifth largest in the world with a GDP of $2.8 trillion and a population of 650 million. As a critical hub for global trade, more than $3.4 trillion in global trade transits through ASEAN each year. In 2019, ASEAN became the 4th largest goods export market for the U.S. after Canada, Mexico, and China, reaching over $105 billion in exports in goods and services. It has also attracted more U.S. investment than any other destination in the whole of Indo-Pacific, receiving almost $329 billion in investment, more than the United States has directed to China, India, Japan, and South Korea combined.

About

The Business and Public Policy Intern will assist the Council's Singapore office in providing forward-looking research and support to the Council's 180+ members. This will include attending meetings, calls, and events during the work week, some of which may extend beyond traditional hours due to coordination with overseas offices.   

Responsibilities

• Assist Council staff with programming run out of the Singapore office including member meetings, business missions, and special projects
• Assist in the development of programming such as roundtables, briefings, seminars and workshops that advance the objectives of member companies
• Work directly with Singapore and D.C. based staff on business mission preparation
• Monitor major news and policy developments and contribute to the preparation of Council intelligence updates

Internship Stipend

Interns will be paid at the market hourly rate on either a full-time (preferred) or part-time basis.

Qualifications

• Experience, ideally in government, government relations, economic analysis, project management, or business development preferred (through studies, internships, or otherwise)
• Knowledge of and experience working with Singapore government is a plus.
• Must have strong research skills and be able to learn and absorb quickly.
• Must be organized, detail-oriented and be able to successfully handle multiple tasks at the same time.
• Must be fluent in English with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience working with senior executives is a plus.
• Must be eligible to work legally in Singapore. Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents preferred.

Application Procedures, Deadlines and Internship Periods

To apply to the Council’s internship program, please submit a resume, one brief writing sample (no more than two pages), and a cover letter to the application form below. The cover letter should include information about your availability and a brief description of your academic and professional goals.  

Internship Duration: May - August 2025