Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday invited Dutch companies to design, innovate and manufacture in India, highlighting the wide range of business opportunities in the country.
He urged firms to explore industries such as maritime transport, renewable energy, digital technology, semiconductors, artificial intelligence and healthcare.
PM Modi, who is visiting the Netherlands during the second leg of his five-nation tour, also witnessed the signing of an agreement between Tata Electronics and ASML to extend support to a semiconductor manufacturing plant in Dholera, Gujarat.
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He was accompanied by his Dutch counterpart Rob Jetten as both Prime Ministers called for the early implementation of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA). According to an official statement, the FTA strengthens India and the European Union as trusted and reliable partners.
India’s symbol of scale and stability: PM Modi
Addressing the CEO Round Table, PM Modi said that India has become a symbol of scale and stability, adding that no country in the world can match its speed in infrastructure, clean energy and connectivity. He noted that India now contributes 17 percent to global growth.
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Emphasizing that India’s economy has been reshaped by continuous reforms, the Prime Minister said the government is working to provide greater political stability for businesses while expanding opportunities in the private sector. He added that sectors such as space, mining and nuclear power are gradually opening up.
He further elaborated: “We are constantly reducing the burden of compliance and making it easier to do business. We have recently introduced next-generation reforms in areas such as taxation, the labor code and governance.”
Manufacturing in India becomes highly cost effective: PM
PM Modi added that manufacturing in India is becoming highly cost-effective, while in the services sector, the country has become an engine of efficiency and innovation thanks to its talent.
He also informed that all global technology companies have set up their global capability centers in India.
India-Netherlands partnership
Commenting on the bilateral ties, PM Modi said that he and his Dutch counterpart will take some important decisions. “We will transform this trusted India-Netherlands partnership into a strategic partnership. We are launching an ambitious joint roadmap for green hydrogen. We are preparing our ties in the technology sector for the future,” he added.
In addition, the two countries will further strengthen talent mobility, university partnerships and joint research and development (R&D).
He pointed out that more than 300 Dutch companies are now part of India’s growth story. He also said that the Netherlands is India’s largest European investor and its second largest trading partner.
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The two sides also signed several agreements to further strengthen cooperation in a number of areas.
The Netherlands is one of India’s top trade destinations in Europe, with bilateral trade reaching $27.8 billion in 2024-25. The European nation is the fourth largest investor in India with a cumulative FDI of US$55.6 billion.
PM Modi welcomes contribution of Indians to Netherlands
Prime Minister Modi, who arrived in The Hague on Friday, received a warm welcome from members of the Indian diaspora in the Netherlands. He appreciated the Indian diaspora for its contribution to the Dutch society and described it as a living bridge of friendship between India and the Netherlands.
The Netherlands is home to the largest number of people of Indian origin in continental Europe, including about 200,000 members of the Surinamese-Hindustani community.
(With agency inputs)
Key things
- Prime Minister Modi’s visit highlights the growing economic ties between India and the Netherlands.
- The Netherlands is India’s fourth largest investor and represents significant bilateral trade potential.
- The focus on sectors such as renewable energy and technology indicates India’s commitment to innovation.
