About the Project

ASEAN Matters for America / America Matters for ASEAN is a comprehensive and multi-activity effort to demonstrate and track ASEAN’s importance to the United States, and the United States’ importance to ASEAN. Emphasis is placed on generating and disseminating user-friendly analysis and visual graphics – on both quantitative and qualitative data. This is a collaborative project of the East-West Center and the Institute for Southeast Asian Studies.

Current Data Includes:

• About ASEAN: Basic facts and figures about the 10 countries that make up the ASEAN region
• ASEAN’s Importance: Explore the region’s:
  • Strategic location
  • Economics and trade
  • Investment
• US-ASEAN Relationship: Including:
  • Trade
  • Immigration
  • Sister cities & international Students
  • Timeline of major events
• Charts & Data: Interactive tables and maps illustrating:
  • Economics
  • Demographics
  • Students

The Publication

In addition to this website, a hard copy brochure is available covering the major themes of the initiative.

• Download the brochure (coming soon)
• Request a hard copy brochure

The East-West Center

The East-West Center promotes better relations and understanding among the people and nations of the United States, Asia, and the Pacific through cooperative study, research, and dialogue. Established by the U.S. Congress in 1960, the Center serves as a resource for information and analysis on critical issues of common concern, bringing people together to exchange views, build expertise, and develop policy options.

The Center is an independent, public, nonprofit organization with funding from the U.S. government, and additional support provided by private agencies, individuals, foundations, corporations, and governments in the region.

The Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS)

The Institute of Southeast Asian Studies is a regional research centre dedicated to the study of socio-political, security and economic trends and developments in Southeast Asia and its wider geostrategic and economic environment.

The  aim of the Institute is to nurture a community of scholars interested in the region and to engage in research on the multi-faceted dimensions and issues of stability and security, economic development, and political, social and cultural change.

Methodologies and Sources

Merchandise Exports by state data is provided by WISERTrade as reported by the U.S. Bureau of the Census. Merchandise Exports by Congressional District data is provided by Trade Partnership based on data from the U.S. Bureau of the Census.

Foreign Born ethnicity data by state is obtained from the 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 American Community Survey of the U.S. Bureau of the Census (Tables: PCT027, B05006 and C05006).

International Students from Asia and Oceania data is obtained from the Open Doors Survey of the Institute of International Education (opendoors.iienetwork.org). Data by state and Congressional district from Asia was computed by Trade Partnership based on IIE data. Economic impact from students by state and Congressional district from Asia is estimated by the East-West Center based on data from IIE.

Full source notes can be found in the printed publication or at Asia Matters for America.