Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Daniel J. Kritenbrink, is set to travel to Manila, Philippines from May 20-21 to participate in the sixth Indo-Pacific Business Forum (IPBF). This forum is recognized as the premier U.S.-sponsored business event in the region.
The United States and the Philippines are co-hosting this year's IPBF. The forum serves as a platform for government and business leaders from across the Indo-Pacific region to exchange ideas, explore potential regional government and business partnerships, and discuss commercial opportunities.
The IPBF also showcases significant private sector investment and government efforts that support market competition, job growth, and high-standard development for greater prosperity and economic inclusion in the Indo-Pacific. A highlight of this year's forum will be a trilateral event between the United States, Japan, and the Philippines aimed at advancing the first Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment corridor in the region – the Luzon Economic Corridor. This initiative was announced by leaders from these three countries at an April 11 trilateral summit in Washington as part of the PGI IPEF Investment Accelerator.
While in Manila, Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink will deliver a keynote address emphasizing how the IPBF contributes to promoting a free, open, connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient Indo-Pacific region. He will also underscore America's role as a major economic partner in this region with U.S. companies being top sources of foreign direct investment nearing $1 trillion in U.S. investments while two-way trade exceeds $2 trillion annually.
Joining Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink will be other high-ranking U.S. officials including Director Enoh T. Ebong from U.S. Trade and Development Agency; Senior Advisor to President for Energy and Investment Amos Hochstein; Deputy Chief Executive Officer Nisha Biswal from U.S. International Development Finance Corporation; First Vice President and Vice Chair Judith D. Pryor from Export-Import Bank of the United States; Ambassador Matt Murray, U.S. Senior Official for APEC; Special Coordinator of the Partnership for Infrastructure and Investment Helaina Matza; and Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific Sarah Ellerman.
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency is co-hosting IPBF on behalf of the U.S. Government, in partnership with the U.S. Department of State.
For further information, please visit the Indo-Pacific Business Forum website.
