Amsterdam, Netherlands: The 14th edition of the India Symposium, organized by India Business House (IBH), has outlined an ambitious roadmap to elevate bilateral trade between India and the Netherlands to USD 50 billion by 2030. Held in Amsterdam on May 15, 2026, the symposium coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the Netherlands, underscoring the growing strategic and economic partnership between the two nations.
Bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, and diplomats, the event focused on translating diplomatic momentum into actionable business partnerships across critical sectors including water management, agriculture, sustainability, green industry, and startup innovation.
Netherlands Positioned as India’s Gateway to Europe
The symposium highlighted the Netherlands’ role as a key gateway for Indian businesses seeking access to the broader European market. With bilateral trade currently valued at approximately USD 27 billion, the Netherlands remains India’s third-largest export destination in Europe and its fourth-largest source of foreign direct investment, contributing nearly USD 55 billion in cumulative FDI between 2000 and 2025.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Vikas Chaturvedi, Chairman of India Business House and CEO of Valuecent Group, emphasized the need to deepen economic integration between the two countries. He outlined a vision to achieve USD 50 billion in bilateral trade by the end of the decade and highlighted opportunities arising from the recently concluded India-European Union Free Trade Agreement.
The event was attended by H.E. Marisa Gerards, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to India, Nepal and Bhutan, who stressed the importance of stronger collaboration in innovation, sustainability, water management, technology, agriculture and entrepreneurship. She called for enhanced business engagement and knowledge-sharing to unlock new growth opportunities for both economies.
Water Initiative Targets Sustainable Solutions for India
One of the major announcements at the symposium was the launch of the “Water For Life Projects India” initiative by the Living Peace Projects Foundation. The programme aims to address India’s growing water challenges, including groundwater depletion, river pollution, drinking water shortages and climate-related water stress.
The initiative will leverage Dutch expertise in water management through a framework centered on Sustainability, Innovation, Design and Engineering (SIDE). Proposed interventions include water education programs, rejuvenation of traditional water bodies, Yamuna river restoration efforts, and the establishment of living water cycle centres.
Led by Living Peace Projects Chairperson Brigitte Madeleine Van Baren and StratScan International Managing Partner Thijs Linthorst, the programme is expected to impact more than 10 million people through community-based and environmentally sustainable solutions.
New Platform to Strengthen Agricultural Exports
Agriculture and food exports formed another major focus area at the symposium. Recognizing the challenges Indian exporters face in meeting European regulatory and food safety standards, industry experts unveiled a dedicated Food & Agri Platform aimed at simplifying market access.
The platform will function as an integrated Quality and Trade Desk, providing regulatory guidance, certification support, logistics assistance and buyer connections for Indian food and agricultural businesses seeking entry into European markets.
The initiative was spearheaded by Bert Jan Ottens of QAssurance and ProFound-Advisers in Development, along with Arvind Kulshrestha, Founder and CEO of AK Food International.
The session also witnessed the launch of the book Real Time Food Safety Assurance, co-authored by Cornelis Van Elst and Dr. Vikas Chaturvedi, which explores technology-driven solutions for food safety and supply chain monitoring across India-EU trade networks.
Green Energy Corridor to Accelerate Sustainable Investments
The symposium also focused extensively on sustainability and the green economy, areas that are increasingly central to both Indian and Dutch economic agendas.
A significant announcement came with the unveiling of a dedicated platform designed to support the proposed India-Netherlands Green Energy Corridor. The initiative aims to facilitate investments in renewable energy, green technologies and sustainable infrastructure projects by connecting businesses, investors and policymakers.
Industry leaders noted that the planned Green and Digital Corridor linking Rotterdam with Indian ports could play a critical role in strengthening sustainable supply chains and accelerating the global energy transition.
In another notable development, NUBOXED Technology announced plans to establish a manufacturing facility in the Netherlands. According to Co-Founder Satanik Roy, the facility will focus on AI-driven refurbishment and circular manufacturing practices, strengthening cooperation between the two countries in the circular economy sector.
Startup Accelerator to Connect Indian Innovation with Europe
Looking toward future growth sectors, the symposium pre-launched a Startup Accelerator Initiative designed to connect Indian startups with European markets, investors, research institutions and corporate partners.
The platform aims to support startups operating in artificial intelligence, fintech, enterprise technology, life sciences and digital infrastructure by providing structured access to Europe’s innovation ecosystem.
Lalit Das, Co-Founder of Agentra AI, said the accelerator would help Indian startups build strategic partnerships and gain market access across Europe. HCL Technologies Europe Executive Vice President Sudip Lahiri also highlighted the importance of ecosystem support and industry collaboration in enabling startups to scale globally.
From Diplomacy to Execution
Organizers described the symposium as a practical extension of broader India-Europe economic initiatives, including the Joint Trade and Investment Committee framework and the India-EU Free Trade Agreement.
Held on the same day as Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the Netherlands, the event reflected a growing convergence of political support, institutional frameworks and private-sector participation.
As India and the Netherlands seek to deepen cooperation across trade, technology, sustainability and innovation, the 14th India Symposium signaled a shift from policy discussions toward implementation, with multiple sector-specific initiatives now moving into an execution-focused phase.
