Washington, DC - From March 2-11, 2016, Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State Ambassador David H. Thorne will lead the State Department’s “American Innovation Roadshow” to Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. This Roadshow is one of the first activities under U.S.-ASEAN Connect and the first in a series of Roadshows across Asia. Ambassador

Thorne will lead a diverse delegation of U.S. multinational companies, financial investors, and successful early stage U.S. companies. At each stop, the delegation will meet with government officials, business leaders, venture capitalists, students, and start-ups to discuss the challenges and importance of supporting innovation and entrepreneurship.

On March 2-6, the delegation will be in Jakarta, Indonesia. On March 3, U.S. Embassy Jakarta will host a live-streamed panel discussion on innovation (in English with Indonesian translation) at 2 p.m. Jakarta time (2 a.m. EST). On March 7, in Hanoi, Vietnam, the Ministry of Science and Technology will host a public innovation fair to showcase U.S. techniques for supporting innovation and to discuss the role that innovation plays in U.S. economic growth. A press conference will follow.

On March 8-9, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Forbes Vietnam will host a conference featuring Fulbright University Vietnam leadership to highlight the nexus between education and innovation. Separately, U.S. Consulate Vietnam will host an innovation fair. On March 10, in Manila, Philippines, the delegation will participate in the Science, Technology, Research, and Innovation for Development (STRIDE) showcase, which is focused on the theme of “Attracting Young Graduates into Careers in Science, Technology and Innovation.” On March 11, the delegation will finish the trip with meetings in Cebu, Philippines.