India and the Netherlands on Saturday decided to raise their relationship to the level of a strategic partnership after extensive talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Dutch counterpart Rob Jetten amid global geopolitical shifts.
Modi began his two-day visit to The Hague on Friday as part of a four-nation tour to Europe aimed at strengthening bilateral relations in a range of key areas.
India and the Netherlands also signed a number of agreements to enhance their cooperation in a range of fields.
“There has been significant progress in Indo-Dutch relations over the past decade,” Modi said in his televised opening remarks during talks with Dutch Prime Minister Jetten.
The Netherlands is one of India’s largest trade destinations in Europe, with bilateral trade reaching US$27.8 billion in 2024-25. The European country is the fourth largest investor in India with cumulative FDI of US$55.6 billion.
In his remarks, the Prime Minister said that India considers the Netherlands among its most important partners, as the historical and people-to-people ties between the two sides are “deep-rooted.”
“Democratic values, market economy and responsible behavior are part of our common approach. Our cooperation in the areas of water, healthcare and education makes the lives of our people better,” he said.
Modi also highlighted India’s economic growth.
The Prime Minister suggested that there should be a convergence between Dutch expertise and India’s “speed and skill” in every sector.
“We need to take our cooperation in innovation, investment, sustainability and defense to new heights. Under this shared vision, we are taking Indo-Dutch relations to the level of a strategic partnership,” Modi said.
In his remarks, Cetin also highlighted various key aspects of the growing relations between the two countries and announced the elevation of relations to the level of a strategic partnership.
Ahead of the bilateral talks, Prime Minister Modi, along with Jitten, interacted with prominent CEOs of leading Dutch companies in various sectors such as energy, ports, health, agri-trade, technology and others.
Modi called on Dutch companies to explore opportunities in India, especially in the sectors of maritime transport, renewable energy, digital technologies, semiconductors, artificial intelligence and healthcare.
“We are constantly working to reduce compliance and increase the ease of doing business. We have recently implemented next-generation reforms in tax, labor law and governance,” he told business leaders.
Modi said that manufacturing in India has become very cost-effective, and in the services sector, it has become an engine of efficiency and innovation.
“We call on you all to design and innovate in India. There can be no better time for this than today,” Modi said.
“India today is a symbol of size and stability. In terms of size, we are also the world’s fastest growing major economy and the world’s largest talent pool. Infrastructure, clean energy, connectivity – no one in the world can match India’s speed,” he said.
He added: “On the topic of stability, I have completed 12 years as Prime Minister of the largest democracy in the world. In these 12 years, through continuous reforms, we have transformed our economic DNA. Our direction was clear – to give policy predictability to the private sector and increase opportunities for it.”
Modi said his government has opened up every sector to the private sector, be it space, mining or nuclear energy.
The two Prime Ministers stressed the importance of early implementation of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement.
