ASEAN Consulates in New York and NYC Mayor’s Office Explore Practical Areas of Cooperation
NEW YORK CITY, 06 July 2026 – Consul General Senen T. Mangalile, in the Philippines’ capacity as current ASEAN Chair, hosted a meeting between heads of ASEAN Consular Missions in New York and Ms. Ana María Archila, Commissioner of the New York City Mayor’s Office for International Affairs (MOIA), on 06 July 2026.
The meeting was attended by Consul General Winanto Adi of Indonesia, Consul General Norhalilah Abdul Jalil of Malaysia, Consul General Somjai Taphaopong of Thailand, and Consul Chew Ee Lin of Singapore. Dr. Amanda J. Reffsin, MOIA Strategic Relationships Director for Asia and the Middle East, and Ms. Fernanda Perez Villareal, Special Assistant and Strategic Policy Liaison for the Commissioner from MOIA were present as well.
Commissioner Archila briefed the ASEAN Heads of Consular Missions on the priorities of Mayor Zohran K. Mamdani’s administration, including efforts to make New York City more affordable, welcoming, and responsive to its diverse communities. She highlighted MOIA’s interest in practical and specific city-to-city cooperation, stronger international engagement, and closer coordination with consulates to help diaspora communities access City programs on childcare, housing, food access, transportation, public safety, tenant rights, immigrant services, and other community needs.
The ASEAN Heads of Consular Missions shared possible areas of cooperation and cooperative activities with New York City, including an ASEAN Day reception, an ASEAN Film Festival, cultural and historical programming, city-to-city exchanges, tourism cooperation, youth and artist engagement, support for small businesses, and greater visibility for Southeast Asian immigrant communities. They also raised community concerns relating to immigration, public safety, anti-Asian hate, senior services, emergency contacts, and access to relevant City agencies.
Commissioner Archila welcomed the proposals and expressed openness to practical, community-based, and issue-specific collaboration with ASEAN consular posts and possible follow-up areas such as “Know Your Rights” information campaigns, multilingual materials on City services, small business briefings, engagement with appropriate New York City Police Department counterparts, and wider coordination with NYC Emergency Management.
The meeting marked the first meeting between Commissioner Archila and the ASEAN Heads of Consular Missions in New York since her appointment on 17 February 2026 by New York City Mayor Zohran K. Mamdani. END
