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U.S. Consul General, Tamil Nadu IT minister inaugurate platform to strengthen public-private partnership

The meeting was inaugurated by U.S. Consul General in Chennai, Chris Hodges, and Tamil Nadu’s Minister of Information Technology and Digital Services, Dr. Palanivel Thiaga Rajan.

meeting of the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) / Image- Us Embassy India

In an effort to strengthen collaboration between U.S. Government security officials and private-sector professionals in India, a meeting of the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) was held in Chennai recently.

The meeting was inaugurated by U.S. Consul General in Chennai, Chris Hodges, and Tamil Nadu’s Minister of Information Technology and Digital Services, Dr. Palanivel Thiaga Rajan.

OSAC, a public-private partnership under the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), facilitates security collaboration and information-sharing for U.S. organizations operating overseas. The meeting aimed to address evolving security challenges through public-private partnerships.

This year’s meeting provided a platform for U.S. diplomatic and corporate security personnel in India to engage with Indian private-sector counterparts in security training, consultations, and threat analysis, a news release noted.

Diplomatic Security Regional Security Officer (RSO) Scott Schonauer from the U.S. Consulate in Chennai emphasized the importance of trust in security partnerships. "We aim to build trust through networks with Indian counterparts that model gender equity and better anticipate security issues, including identifying and tracking threats," Schonauer said.

Tamil Nadu’s IT Minister commended Chennai for hosting the event, saying, "Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) are in the DNA of Tamil Nadu. OSAC reflects these principles. The scale of this event showcases the strength of the U.S.-India relationship, commercially and strategically."

Christopher Gillis, Senior Regional Security Officer from the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, noted, "This conference reinforces the connection between the U.S. Government and the private sector, ensuring a safer operating environment."

The OSAC India Chennai Chapter, co-chaired by Schonauer and private-sector co-chair John Paul Manickam, is one of the oldest in India. Manickam praised the collaboration, stating, "OSAC Country Chapters promote best practices and collaboration among U.S. security professionals in India."

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