On October 29th, AMCHAM’s Defense Committee members met with Mr. Patrick Mason, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Defense Exports and Cooperation (DASA DE&C), U.S. Department of Defense in New Delhi to apprise him on new opportunities and challenges in intertwining both defense industrial ecosystems for effective co-production and co-development. Ms. Udaya Arun, Director, AMCHAM welcomed Mr. Mason and thanked him for an opportunity to meet him in quick succession after AMCHAM’s door knock in June 2024. Mr. Alain Garcia, Chairman – Defense Committee, AMCHAM and Vice President, Global Business Development – India, Boeing Defense India invited participants to introduce themselves and gave a brief overview of challenges that U.S. companies face on the ground. Other members shared challenges with respect to platforms, systems, etc. and policy hurdles regarding the lack of consensus on end-user requirements. Mr. Mason was joined by Ms. Sandy Long, Senior Advisor for Defense Exports, DASA DE&C, U.S. Department of Defense and Mr. Hazem A. Hammad, INDOPACOM Regional Chief, DASA DE&C, U.S. Department of Defense, along with officials from the Office of Defense Cooperation, U.S. Embassy. U.S. companies operating in India encounter significant challenges such as complex regulatory landscape, infrastructure bottlenecks, and bureaucratic hurdles that hinder smooth operations. To address these issues, members sought advice and support from DASA DE&C’s in streamlining regulatory processes, facilitating infrastructure development to optimize their operations in India and therefor contribute more to India’s economic growth. Mr. Mason was very grateful for the candid conversation and assured AMCHAM he would remain connected to the U.S. Embassy on such matters.