2018 YSEALI Summit

The Asia Foundation implemented the 2018 Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Summit in Singapore from December 3-5, 2018, together with the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. YSEALI is the U.S. Department of State’s signature program to strengthen leadership development and networking in Southeast Asia. The 2018 YSEALI Summit, which marked YSEALI’s fifth anniversary, gathered 150 participants from ASEAN and the U.S. around the theme “The United States and ASEAN: Partners in Growth and Innovation.” The summit showcased innovative approaches to economic cooperation and growth by U.S. companies, organizations, and institutions present in ASEAN and allowed young innovators and entrepreneurs from both the U.S. and ASEAN to connect with each other and with participating experts. Participants collaborated on group projects in the Innovation Slam competition, participated in community service projects around Singapore, and toured Innovation Labs of American companies in Singapore.

The Asia Foundation invests in the human capital needed for Asian societies to develop and flourish, and has long worked to identify, equip and develop leaders of consequence— from emerging, next generation development and policy leaders in Asia, to highly accomplished leaders who seek to do more. Tackling critical Asian development challenges rests not only on solid ideas and strategies, but on people. The Foundation’s Leadership Development and Exchange Programs (LeadEx) team is dedicated to advancing the region’s emerging leaders and changemakers.