The annual AMCHAM India door knock delegation to Washington DC was led by AMCHAM’s Chairman, Mr. Som Satsangi, SVP and Managing Director, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, India from June 10^th – 13^th, 2024. The main purpose of the door knock was to inform U.S. policy-makers on issues impacting U.S. investments in India. AMCHAM India’s door knock whitepaper provided an industry perspective on sector wise opportunities and challenges for U.S industry operating in India.

The delegation met with over 21 departments/offices and 6 Senators and Representatives (or their staff), in addition to meetings with think tanks and important professionals that shared their views on the bilateral relationship in the current geopolitical scenario.

The main topics of discussions with government officials included:

• U.S.-India initiative of Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET)
• Strategic convergence of the U.S.-India relationship
• Opportunities in co-production and co-development
• Impact of global geo-political scenario on bilateral relations
• Supply chain diversification
• Data security
• AI capabilities as the game changer and differentiating factor going forward in healthcare
• U.S.-India education and skilling cooperation
• Reducing dependence on China for semiconductors
• Proposed reduction in FDI in the seed sector in India
• Food security challenges
• Overall security partnership in the Indo-Pacific
• Ease of doing business challenges in India
• Continued support on making India a MRO hub (maintenance and repair overhaul)
• Aerospace collaboration

On Monday morning, June 10th, the door knock officially kicked off with an informal internal briefing followed by an interaction with Ambassador Tim Roemer, (former U.S. Ambassador to India), Executive Director & Strategic Counselor, APCO Worldwide. Then the delegation participated in a roundtable with India experts from think tanks, hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), led by Mr. Rick Rossow, Senior Adviser and Chair in U.S.-India Policy Studies, CSIS with Ms. Kalpana Kanthan, Chief Development Officer, American India Foundation (AIF), Ms. Vanessa Crawford, International Relations Program Officer, Asia Foundation, Mr. Raymond Vickery, Jr., Senior Associate (Non-resident), Chair in U.S.-India Policy Studies, CSIS, Ms. Katherine Hadda, Visiting Fellow, Chair in U.S.-India Policy Studies, CSIS, Mr. Donald Camp, Adjunct Fellow (Non-resident), Chair in U.S.-India Policy Studies, CSIS, Ms. Aparna Pande, Research Fellow, India and South Asia Hudson Institute, Mr. Josh White, Professor, Practice of International Affairs, Johns Hopkins University, Ms. Neelima Jain, Director of States Initiatives, India Energy & Climate Center (IECC), UC Berkeley, Ms. Isha Gupta, Research Analyst, U.S. Institute of Peace and Mr. Nelson Cunningham.

In the afternoon the delegation met with the following leadership from the Institute of International Education: Dr. Allan E. Goodman, Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Jonah Kokodyniak, Executive Vice President, Program Development & Partner Services, Ms. Jordanna Enrich, Senior Director, Fulbright Student and Scholar Programs, Ms. Jasmine Williams, Analyst, Quad Fellowship and Ms. Leah Mason, Assistant Director of Research, Evaluation and Learning. This was immediately followed by a meeting with Ms. Sarah Taub, Legislative Assistant, Office of Representative Shri Thanedar (D-MI). Defense delegates met with Mr. Douglas Bush, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, U.S. Department of Defense, Mr. Patrick Mason, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Army for Defense Export and Cooperation, U.S. Department of Defense, Mr. Curtis Thomas, U.S. Army Security Assistance Command, U.S. Army, Mr. Michael Prater, Director, International Acquisition for ASA (ALT) / DASA (DEC), Mr. James Ray, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development, DASA (DEC), Mr. Tim Schimpp, Security Assistance Specialist, DASA (DEC), Mr. Hazem Hammad, Country Relationship Manager – INDOPACOM, (DASA DE&C), Mr. Jonathan Mangrum, Policy Advisor, South and South-East Asia, Office of Secretary of Defense-Policy, Indo-Pacific Security Affairs and Ms. Calista Bond, Policy Advisor, South and South-East Asia, Office of Secretary of Defense – Policy, Indo-Pacific Security Affairs. Defense delegates met with Mr. Robert Helfant, Assistant Director for International Relations, Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), Mr. Andrew Lake, India Country Portfolio Director, DSCA and Mr. David Appezzato, Weapon System Policy Analyst, DSCA. A small group of healthcare delegates met with Ms. Alessandra “Alex” Holland, Director, Office of Health Industries, Industry and Analysis, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce and Mr. Jonathan Goldberg, International Trade Specialist (Digital Health, Medical Devices, Healthcare Services, and APEC), Office of Health Industries, Industry & Analysis, ITA, U.S. Department of Commerce. The whole delegation met with Mr. Arun Venkataraman, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets, and Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, Global Markets, U.S. Department of Commerce along with his colleagues, Ms. Pamela Phan, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia, Global Markets, ITA, Ms. Tamarind Murrietta, Director, Office of South Asia (Acting), GM/ITA, Mr. James Hepburn, International Trade Specialist, Office of South Asia, Ms. Noor Sclafani, International Trade Specialist, Office of South Asia and Mr. Erol Yesin, International Trade Specialist, Office of South Asia. Day one officially concluded with a reception for Mr. Sridhar Babu, Minister for Information Technology, Electronics, Communications, Industries and Commerce, Government of Telangana, Mr. Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary, Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (ITE&C) and Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Telangana and Mr. Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, IFS Officer, Special Officer on Duty, Government of Telangana.

On June 11th, the delegation met with Ms. Amy Holman, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Mr. Robert Garverick, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, U.S. Department of State and Mr. Paul Stahle, Economic Unit Chief for India, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, U.S. Department of State. Then the delegate split into two groups for parallel meetings. Part of the delegation met with Mr. Paul Burdette, Senior Legislative and Policy Analyst, Senate Foreign Relations Committee for Chairman Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Professional Staffers, Mr. Ryan Fioresi and Ms. Habiba Shebita while others met with the following officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture: Dr. Chris Peterson, Lead Science Advisor, New Technologies and Production Methods Division, Trade Policy and Geographic Affairs, Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), Ms. Yvette Percell, Senior Trade Advisor (Dairy), Animal Division, Trade Policy and Geographic Affairs, FAS and Ms. Eva Christensen, Agricultural Science Advisor, Processed Products Division, Trade Policy and Geographic Affairs, FAS. At the White House, the whole delegation met with Ms. Lindsey Ford, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for South Asia, National Security Council (NSC) and Mr. Pranay Vaddi, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Arms Control, Disarmament, and Non-proliferation, NSC, Mr. Seamas Whitesel, Director for South Asia Regional Affairs, NSC and Dr. Stephen Tankel, Director for Defense Policy & Strategy, NSC. Later in the afternoon some healthcare delegates met with the following officials from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration: Mr. John Weiner, Director, Office of Global Operations, Mr. Joseph Rieras, Director, Office of Trade and Global Partnerships, Office of Global Policy and Strategy and Mx. Caity Bernards, Global Health Officer, Asia-Pacific Region, Office of Global Affairs. Defense delegates met with U.S. Department of Defense officials: Ms. Lori Abele, Principal Director, Indo Pacific Security Affairs/South and South-East Asia, Office of Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, Mr. Chuck Miller, Assistant Senior Foreign Affairs Specialist, Defense Technology Security Administration, Office of Secretary of Defense, Mr. Brian Burton, Senior Advisor, Industry and International Engagement, OSD – Acquisition & Sustainment (Industrial Base Policy), Mr. Husain Suterwala, Senior Space Policy Advisor, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Mr. David Rice, Policy Advisor, International Armaments Cooperation, OSD – A&S (IBP), Mr. Jonathan Mangrum, Policy Advisor, South and South-East Asia, Office of Secretary of Defense – Policy, Indo-Pacific Security Affairs and Ms. Calista Bond, Policy Advisor, South and South-East Asia, Office of Secretary of Defense – Policy, Indo-Pacific Security Affairs. Delegates met with Mr. Daniel Gerig, Legislative Director and Mr. Chris Anderson, National Security Advisor, Office of Senator Steve Daines (R-MT). Day two concluded with a networking reception hosted by Amway.

On June 12^th, the delegation met with Mr. Kent Bress, Deputy Associate Administrator (Acting) for International and Interagency Relations, NASA, Ms. Katelyn Kuhl, International Program Specialist, Office of International and Interagency Relations, NASA and Ms. Makaela Mendrala, International Program Specialist, Office of International and Interagency Relations, NASA. Next the delegation met with Mr. Donald Lu, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, U.S. Department of State and Mr. Paul Stahle, Economic Unit Chief for India, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, U.S. Department of State. For parallel meeting some of the aviation delegates met with Mr. Laurence Wildgoose, Assistant Administrator for Policy, International Affairs and Environment, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Mr. David Burkholder, Deputy Director, Office of International Affairs, FAA, Ms. Robyn B. Cicero, Senior Foreign Affairs Specialist – South Asia, Asia-Pacific Regional Strategies and APEC, FAA and Ms. Tara B. McDaniel, Chief of Staff to the Deputy Administrator, FAA, while the rest of the delegation met with Ms. Ellie Collinson, Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer, U.S. Trade and Development Agency and Ms. Verinda Fike, Regional Director, Indo-Pacific, USTDA. Later, half the delegation met with Mr. Daniel Lee, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Innovation and Intellectual Property and Ms. Aurelia Schultz, Director for Innovation and Intellectual Property, USTR while other delegates met with Representative Michael Waltz (R-FL), Vice Chair of the Congressional India Caucus and Mr. Thomas Boodry, Legislative Director. Day three concluded after a meeting with Senator Todd Young (R-IN) and Mr. Burke Miller, Legislative Assistant.

Day four, June 13th, began with defense delegates meeting CAPT. Michael Farmer, Director Global Security Cooperation, Navy International Programs Office (NIPO), Mr. Timothy J. Smith, Deputy Director, INDOPACOM Division, NIPO and Mr. Brett Davis, Foreign Area Officer, U.S. Navy, while the other group of the delegates met with Ambassador Sripriya Ranganathan, Chargé d’Affaires, Embassy of India, Dr. Ajay Kumar, Minister Commerce, Embassy of India and Mr. Akhilesh Singh, First Secretary Commerce, Embassy of India. The delegation met with Representative Ami Bera (D-CA) and Ms. Emma Bruce, Democratic Staff Director, House Foreign Affairs Committee Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific. The day wrapped up with a meeting at U.S. Department of Commerce with Ms. Thea Kendler, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration, Bureau of Industry and Security and Ms. Elizabeth “Liz” Abraham, Director, International Policy, Export Administration, Bureau of Industry and Security.

The last door knock engagement was held on June 14^th with a small group of delegates who had an interaction with Mr. Michael J. Vaccaro, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Defense Trade Controls, Bureau of Political Military Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Mr. Sho J. Morimoto, Chief of Sea, Land, and Air Systems Division, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (PM/DDTC), Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, U.S. Department of State and Mr. Jeffrey Rubenstein, Senior Economic and Commercial Advisor, Office of Commercial and Business Affairs, U.S. Department of State.

Door Knock Delegation 2024

1. Mr. Som Satsangi, SVP & Managing Director, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, India (Chairman, AMCHAM)
2. Mr. Salil Anil Gupte, President, Boeing India & South Asia (Vice Chairman, AMCHAM)
3. Dr. Ravi M. Bhatkal, Managing Director, MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions India Pvt. Ltd., a unit of Element Solutions Inc. (Chairman – Tamil Nadu Chapter, AMCHAM)
4. Mr. Ramesh Kaza, Senior Managing Director / Country Head IT, State Street (National Executive Board Member, AMCHAM)
5. Mr. Alain Garcia, Vice President, International Business Development, Boeing Defense Space & Security, Boeing India Defense Pvt. Ltd. (Chairman – Defense Committee, AMCHAM)
6. Ms. Ashmita Sethi, President & Country Head, Pratt & Whitney, UTCIPL (Chairperson – Aviation Committee, AMCHAM)
7. Mr. Samit Ray, Deputy Vice President Government Affairs & Public Policy South Asia, RTX (Co-Chairman – Defense Committee, AMCHAM)
8. Mr. Puneet Kumar, Managing Director, Accenture Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
9. Mr. Rajneesh Chopra, Head – India, Amway India Enterprises Pvt. Ltd.
10. Mr. Rajat Banerji, Vice President – Corporate Affairs, Amway India Enterprises Pvt. Ltd.
11. Mr. Adam Watson, Managing Director, India, BAE Systems India (Services) Private Limited
12. Ms. Anuja Kadian, Regional Director – Government & Industry Affairs (Asia Pacific), Corteva Agriscience
13. Mr. John Schaeffler, Executive Director – Government Affairs & Policy Leader, GE HealthCare
14. Ms. Shobha Mishra Ghosh, Director & Head, Government Affairs & Policy, South Asia, GE HealthCare
15. Ms. Jyotsna Ghoshal, Enterprise Lead, Government Affairs and Policy, India, Global Lead, International Forums, Johnson & Johnson Pvt. Ltd.
16. Ms. Ranjana Khanna, Director General CEO, AMCHAM India
17. Ms. Valerie Swope, Program Coordinator, AMCHAM India
18. Ms. Udaya Arun, Director, AMCHAM India
19. Ms. Komple Sharma, Director, AMCHAM India