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.

Internship Duties and Learning Outcomes

Interns under the Business and Policy Internship program in the Philippines will undertake substantive work, consisting largely of research and other projects in support of Council goals. The internship offers a wealth of enriching opportunities, such as access to our high-level conferences and events with ASEAN policymakers and business leaders. The Philippines Business and Policy Intern will assist the Philippine Team in providing forward-looking research and support to the Council's 180+ members. 

While the internship is output-based, the intern is expected to attend meetings, calls, and events during the work week. The intern is expected to respond to calls and emails during the work week. It will be primarily a work-from-home internship. However, for two weeks during the Philippine Business Mission interns are expected to be physically present. Occasionally interns will be asked to attend physical meetings. In such cases, transportation for physical meetings will be reimbursed. An average of 40 hours per week will be expected over the internship program's duration.

Business and Policy Internship Duties

• Assist in stakeholder mapping and external relations development under the supervision of the Philippine Office.  
• Assist Council staff with programming run out of the Philippine office including member meetings, business missions, and special projects 
• Work directly with Philippine and D.C.-based staff on a business mission and other Council events preparation 
• Assist in the development of programming such as roundtables, briefings, seminars and workshops that advance the objectives of member companies 
• Monitor major news and policy developments and contribute to the preparation of Council intelligence updates 
  

Internship Stipend

Interns will be paid a modest monthly stipend.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college in, Business Administration, Economics, Development Studies, International Relations, Political Science, or a related field. A Master’s Degree is highly preferred. Undergraduates are welcome to apply.
  
• Must be eligible to work legally in the Philippines.
  
• Knowledge of and experience working with the Philippine 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. 

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. The cover letter should include information about your dates and time availability and a brief description of your academic and professional goals. 

Deadline: Rolling

Internship Duration: April 1, 2025 to August 29, 2025