(Image source from: Facebook.com/narendramodi)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten engaged in official discussions aimed at enhancing the relationship between India and the Netherlands into a strategic partnership. In a post on X, PM Modi expressed appreciation for the warm reception he and his team received during the meeting with PM Jetten. He mentioned, “I am very grateful for the kind welcome. It feels wonderful to be in the Netherlands after almost ten years. The partnership between India and the Netherlands has shown significant improvement over the last decade. We view the Netherlands as one of India’s key partners. The Netherlands ranks among the top five investors in India. Our historical, cultural, and personal connections are very strong. Our shared vision includes democratic values, a market-driven economy, and responsible actions," he continued. Expressing gratitude to his Dutch counterpart for attending the AI Impact Summit in India last February, PM Modi noted, “Due to our growing collaboration, we invited the Netherlands to join us as a Guest Country during India’s G20 Presidency in 2023. We were pleased that the former Prime Minister of the Netherlands also joined the AI Impact Summit in India last February. India is the youngest country worldwide and is the fastest growing major economy. You represent the new wave of leadership in the Netherlands and Europe. We should merge the Netherlands’ expertise with India’s speed and abilities across all sectors to boost our collaboration in fields like innovation, investment, sustainability, and defense. "
“With this common goal, we are today upgrading India-Netherlands relations to a Strategic Partnership," he stated. The Prime Minister met with prominent Dutch business leaders during a CEO roundtable. While addressing the business executives, Modi promoted India as an attractive location for investment and manufacturing, highlighting:
India’s growing economy
Improvements in the ease of doing business
A developing technology landscape
Possibilities in clean energy and semiconductors
The meeting aimed to promote increased Dutch investment in India.
PM Modi and Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof discussed ways to enhance cooperation in trade, semiconductors, clean energy, innovation, and global supply chains during their talks. The two leaders reviewed the advancements in India-Netherlands relations and looked for new areas to work together amid changing geopolitical and economic circumstances. The Netherlands stands as India’s second-largest trading partner in Europe and is among the most significant European investors in the region. A major cultural highlight of the visit was the official announcement that rare 11th-century Chola Copper Plates would be returned from the Netherlands to India. Modi attended the handover ceremony and stated that the return was a “joyous moment for every Indian. " These copper plates have been held at Leiden University since the 1800s and feature Tamil inscriptions related to the Chola Empire, representing historically important records. This action is part of India’s larger initiative to reclaim cultural artifacts located abroad.
