Initiative to Promote U.S. Private Sector in Asia

U.S. Department of State Launches Initiative to Promote U.S. Private Sector Security In Asia

Washington, DC

October 21, 2008

The U.S. Department of State's Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) has launched a new initiative to promote safety and security for U.S. private sector organizations in the Pan-Asia region.

More than 100 private sector entities attended the inaugural meeting of the Pan-Asia Regional Council (PARC) in San Francisco, October 21-22, 2008.

"The Pan-Asia region is filled with many emerging market economies that are attractive to the U.S. private sector," said Todd Brown, a Special Agent with the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Diplomatic Security and the Executive Director of OSAC. "However, the region also presents a number of unique security and cultural issues that often make it challenging to operate there."

Citing a need for assistance, members of the U.S. private sector asked OSAC in late 2007 to create a regional council specifically focused on Pan-Asia. Modeled after OSAC's successful Latin America Regional Council, the PARC will serve American multinational companies, academic institutions, and nongovernmental organizations with interests in Asia

The PARC will address a broad range of challenges that the U.S. private sector faces in the region, including protection of intellectual property, natural disasters, terrorism, and political instability.

OSAC is firmly committed to the success of PARC and will provide member organizations with unclassified country- and region-specific information, in addition to coordinating the council's overall activities. The primary benefit of the PARC, however, will come from the members themselves.

"The private sector is an invaluable resource for information because they are experiencing the security challenges in the region first hand," stated Brown. "The Pan-Asia Regional Council will provide a unique opportunity for the private sector to network and share their information and experiences.

"By joining this council, these organizations have committed to work together to help each other succeed in the region."

ENDS

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