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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 175 of the most successful and innovative corporations in the world, including Apple, Boeing, Citi, The Coca-Cola Company, Google, and Microsoft. Combined, these 175+ companies generate over $7 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
The Council Internship Program is meant to provide hands-on experience in the field of U.S. – ASEAN business relations. Throughout the internship, students will collaborate directly with country and industry teams, undertaking highly substantive work, including research, social media, program support and attendance, and various other tasks in support of our members.
Membership and Research Internship Duties:
The Membership and Research Intern will assist the Membership team by advancing membership outreach and engagement, with opportunities to provide additional support to Country and Industry Teams by providing forward-looking research to the Council's 175+ members. Specific responsibilities will include:
Researching U.S. private sector activities in ASEAN as well as current national and/or regional economic policy issues
Coordinating with Membership team to develop prospective member lists, perform outreach and work to grow the overall Council membership
Supporting meetings with private sector executives, particularly those based in Washington, DC
Assisting with monthly membership reports and regular country and/or industry updates
Option to attend ASEAN-related briefings at institutions around D.C.
Unpaid Internship
Small transportation stipend (Washington, D.C. public transportation) (optional)
Qualifications
The Council is looking for highly motivated candidates who are undergraduates, recent graduates or graduate students with a strong demonstrable interest in Southeast Asia and business development. We are seeking individuals with strong written and organizational skills, as well as well-honed research abilities.
Customer service experience and excellent research skills
Proficiency in Microsoft 365, particularly Excel
Attention to detail
Self-motivated
Ability to work a minimum of 3-4 days per week
Ability to work legally in the United States (i.e., U.S. citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident, CPT/OPT authorization, or Qualifying Asylee/Refugee)
Based in the U.S. for the duration of the internship
Must intern on a hybrid basis
Application Procedures, Deadlines and Internship Periods
To apply to the Council’s internship program, please submit a resume, two brief writing samples (no more than two pages each) and a cover letter. The cover letter should include information about your availability and a brief description of your academic and professional goals.
Deadline: November 6, 2026
Any questions should also be addressed to internships@usasean.org.
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