Brigitte Daniel - 2011 USA Eisenhower Fellow

My meeting with US Ambassador Adelman was a great way to begin my Singapore explorations. Ambassador Adelman was appointed to this position in 2010. Ambassador Adelman has spent most of his career in the private sector.  Prior to his appointment, he was a businessman, lawyer, university instructor and member of the Georgia Senate. Since his arrival in Singapore, Ambassador Adelman has made great progress further developing and managing the relationship between the United States and Singapore by actively engaging with government leaders, businesses, media, and students.  Under his leadership the U.S. engagement in Singapore has strengthened its position as one of America’s anchors in Asia.

During our meeting, Ambassador Adelman and I discussed US relations between India and Singapore, among many topics. It was very interesting to hear this take from a US official, particularly right after traveling to these India.  He expressed his feelings that US negotiations and engagement have been frustrating between India. Although it was a great move from President Obama to go to India last year and further establish connections and good will, India is still a place where we have to do more work in order to keep consistency and participation progressing between our two Nations.  We spoke about some of the recent protests occurring in India in regards to store owners and the new tax program that will hurt small business owners in the Country.  We spoke about how some of the benefits of India businesses partnering with small businesses in the US, would be beneficial to both economies. 

Lastly, there was discussion around technology and the broadband initiatives taking place in the US and how US models can be strengthened by infusion of global perspectives.  Ambassador Adelman believes that South East Asia can certainly be a model that the US should explore when implementing new and innovative policies as it pertains to technology and access within the US.  However, he did stress that it is hard to turn a government around when history has mandated the course of its action. I agreed with him. It is a lot of hard work.  But I gotta give it a try ;-)

All in all, it was a great conversation and I was very happy to have the meeting and establish my ties within the Country. 

I look forward to keeping Ambassador Adelman apprised of the outcomes of my fellowship program.  As stated during the meeting, one should never underestimate the agility and focus of the smaller US business…or a very determined Spelman Grad ;-)

B