Steven Okun

Steve Okun offers expert insight for those hoping to break into the tightly-knit world of corporate public affairs. “It’s not going to happen unless you are extremely lucky – and I would not want to rely upon luck alone.” That’s my standard answer whenever someone asks how to break into an in-house government relations role in Asia Pacific.

Governments can be both pro-business and pro-worker by balancing open trade with protectionist measures

While the TPP-11 will be a smaller agreement in that countries will no longer enjoy enhanced US market access, it is still an important agreement as it maintains important trade rules that are necessary for 21st-century businesses; rules that are more high-standard and ambitious than those of any other regional trade agreement.

During his State Visit to the US, Singapore Prime Minister Lee said the following:

“Singapore fervently hopes that the U.S. will stay engaged and maintain its indispensable role in the Asia-Pacific. In particular, we hope, and I’m sure the president shares this hope, that Congress will ratify the TPP soon.”

AmCham Singapore agrees completely. The TPP is not only economically in the US interest, it keeps the US front-and-center as an “indispensable” nation in the Asia… Show more

During his State Visit to the US, Singapore Prime Minister Lee said the following:

“Singapore fervently hopes that the U.S. will stay engaged and maintain its indispensable role in the Asia-Pacific. In particular, we hope, and I’m sure the president shares this hope, that Congress will ratify the TPP soon.”

AmCham Singapore agrees completely. The TPP is not only economically in the US interest, it keeps the US front-and-center as an “indispensable” nation in the Asia Pacific.

In an opinion editorial in the August 24th Straits Times, AmCham Singapore TPP Task Force Chairman Steven Okun and Task Force member and President of the Asia Trade Center Deborah Elms discuss the economic and strategic imperative of having the US Congress pass this TPP in this session and having President Obama sign in into law. Show less

Steve Okun is Director of Asia-Pacific Public Affairs at global investment firm KKR. In this interview, Steve reflects on KKR and Impact Investment Exchange Asia’s social enterprise assistance program and discusses his lessons learned, from the biggest challenges social enterprises face when preparing to raise capital to the importance of assistance beyond capital investment.

East Bali Cashews, recently nominated for the US Secretary of State’s Award for Corporate Excellence, is a testament to how businesses can create both a return for investors and a simultaneous out-sized social impact. It also shows how a little support from corporates can go a long way with social enterprises.

Over the next five years, ESG will no doubt be more ubiquitous across the investment process as investors, their partners and stakeholders and regulators recognize the value it brings to the process.

A paralyzed or collapsed TPP process would be seen by America’s allies, partners and competitors across Asia as a body blow not only to the credibility of Washington’s economic leadership, but to our geopolitical position more broadly.

As regional US business leaders prepare for the 2015 APCAC Summit in Singapore, Steven R. Okun and Thomas H. McNutt predict further meaningful engagement between Asia and the United States.