A second group of local companies under the Ministry of Defence.  DCDS – M met them to keep the matching conversation going from where it started at the end of April, and to widen the pool of trusted local partners.  The aim was steady and deliberate, more companies, more capability, more angles on where a Dutch partnership creates real value.  DCDS – M listened to each one’s strengths and where they see room to grow, because the richer the local base, the stronger every future proposal to the armed forces becomes.  This was patient groundwork, the unglamorous but essential job of building a proper bench of partners the coalition can call on whenever it needs to.  Every name added here deepened the supply chain and made the eventual matching event a stronger, more convincing proposition.  The pool grew, and with it grew the coalition’s ability to answer almost any requirement with a ready – made Malaysian and Dutch pairing.