Paving way to forging of better business ties, embassy of India in the Netherlands successfully hosted the annual India-Netherlands Business Seminar on 12 March 2025 in The Hague. The seminar focussed on the theme of “Unlocking Growth Opportunities” in bilateral trade & investment, the event saw participation from around 125 business leaders & govt officials.
Focusing on the theme of “Unlocking Growth Opportunities” in bilateral trade & investment, the event saw participation from around 125 business leaders & govt officials. Ambassador Tuhin Kumar delivered the welcome address; highlighting the strong trade & investment ties between 🇮🇳&🇳🇱; current status as well as investment opportunities in India in various sectors including infrastructure, agriculture, health, technology, renewable energy, etc.
According to the information shared, Mr. Edward Bird from Philips shared valuable experiences of doing business with & India, highlighting the country’s dynamic market, innovation potential, and ease of doing business reforms, highlighting how Dutch companies continue to thrive in India! The Seminar ended with a lively networking session, fostering new partnerships between Indian & Dutch businesses.
Mr. Michiel Sweers, DG Foreign Economic Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted the immense potential of bilateral economic cooperation and the steps being taken by both sides to elevate the ties. MD & CEO of Invest India Nivruti Rai made a comprehensive presentation on investment opportunities & highlighted incentives offered by 🇮🇳 for foreign investors. Mr. Hans Kuijpers, Director, NFIA Holland, Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) shared insights on India-Netherlands economic corridor, emphasizing how Dutch businesses can benefit from India’s booming infrastructure & green economy. A fireside chat on logistics with leaders from Broekman Logistics, Royal KLM & Port Of Rotterdam was, moderated by Ms. Sandra Singh (HVK Stevens) provided deep insights into supply chain collaborations between India-Netherlands in the logistics sectors.
INDIA-NETHERLANDS BILATERAL RELATIONS
India and the Netherlands established diplomatic relations in 1947. Year 2022 marked 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations. Today, India and the Netherlands enjoy strong political, economic & commercial relations. High level mutual exchanges have provided impetus to the multifaceted partnership between the two countries. Water, Agriculture and Health (WAH) are 3 priority sectors of cooperation besides technology and innovation.
High Level Exchanges: India and the Netherlands have regular contact at high levels. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi conveyed his congratulations to the new government of the Netherlands led by PM Mr Dick Schoof on assuming office on July 02, 2024. Dr S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister (EAM) of India also conveyed his congratulations to the new FM of the Netherlands Mr Caspar Veldkamp. On September 28, on the sidelines of 79th UNGA meeting in New York, Dutch FM Caspar Veldkamp met with EAM & held discussions on bilateral cooperation, water management, agriculture, trade and investment. They also discussed various regional & global developments.
Former PM Rutte during his 14 year long premiership visited India thrice in 2015, 2018 and 2023 (for the G20 Summit). An Online Virtual Summit between the two leaders took place in 2021 wherein the India-Netherlands Strategic Partnership in Water was launched and the Joint Working Group on Water Cooperation was elevated to the Ministerial level. PM Modi had visited the Netherlands in 2017.
In April 2022, on the occasion of 75 years of India-Netherlands relations, then President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind paid a State Visit to the Kingdom of Netherlands. The President was ceremonially welcomed at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam by His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Maxima. He had also met with PM Rutte. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands paid a state visit to India from October 14-18, 2019.
EAM had paid a visit to the Netherlands in November 2019. Then Foreign Minister of the Netherlands Ms Hanke Bruins Slot and Defence Minister Ms Kajsa Ollongren had visited India in February 2024 for the Raisina Dialogue and bilateral meetings. Speaker, Lok Sabha Shri Om Birla visited the Netherlands in August 2022 and interacted with the President of the Senate, Mr Jan Anthonie Bruijn, who later visited India in October 2023 to participate in the P20 Summit.
