Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the Netherlands continues to be one of India’s top five investors as both countries agreed to strengthen their partnership in trade, technology, semiconductors, clean energy and innovation. During his visit to The Hague, PM Modi held important bilateral talks with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten and described the relationship between the two countries as strong, stable and growing rapidly.
The meeting between the two leaders focused on improving cooperation in several important sectors including business, renewable energy, healthcare, digital technology, artificial intelligence and semiconductor manufacturing. Both countries also announced a new strategic partnership, which PM Modi called a major milestone in India-Netherlands relations.
Speaking after the talks, PM Modi said that India and the Netherlands share common democratic values and strong people-to-people ties. He said the relationship between the two countries has grown significantly over the last decade and continues to expand in many new areas.
The Prime Minister said that the Netherlands remains among the top five foreign investors in India. He added that Dutch companies have shown strong confidence in the Indian economy and are increasing investments in several sectors.
PM Modi also praised the contribution of the Indian community living in the Netherlands. He said the people-to-people relationship between the two countries is extremely deep and has played a major role in strengthening ties over the years.
According to PM Modi, the newly announced strategic partnership will help both countries work together more closely in the future. He said the partnership would create more opportunities for innovation, trade and economic cooperation.
The Prime Minister explained that India and the European Union are also working towards stronger trade relations, and the India-Netherlands partnership would support that larger goal.
During the meeting, Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten and PM Modi discussed global economic challenges, supply chains, technology partnerships and sustainable development. Both sides agreed that cooperation between India and the Netherlands can help strengthen innovation and economic growth.
Before the official bilateral meeting, PM Modi also attended a roundtable conference with leading Dutch business leaders and CEOs. During the interaction, he invited Dutch companies to invest more in India and participate in India’s fast-growing economy.
The Prime Minister highlighted sectors such as maritime services, renewable energy, semiconductors, digital technology, artificial intelligence and healthcare as areas with huge potential for cooperation.
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He told business leaders that India is continuously improving the ease of doing business and introducing reforms to support private companies and foreign investors.
PM Modi said India remains the world’s fastest-growing major economy and offers stability, large-scale opportunities and policy support for businesses.
He also spoke about reforms introduced during his years in office. The Prime Minister said that over the last 12 years, India has carried out major reforms in taxation, labour laws and governance systems to make the economy more efficient and investor-friendly.
According to PM Modi, India’s economic policies are designed to provide long-term policy stability and predictable business conditions for investors.
The Prime Minister said India is becoming an important global manufacturing and technology hub. He added that the country is focusing strongly on future industries such as semiconductor manufacturing and artificial intelligence.
One of the most important developments during the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Tata Electronics and Dutch semiconductor company ASML.
The agreement aims to support the development of India’s semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem. The MoU was signed in the presence of PM Modi and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten.
According to PM Modi, ASML will support Tata Electronics in setting up and expanding its upcoming semiconductor facility in Dholera, Gujarat.
The Prime Minister said India’s growing semiconductor industry would create major opportunities for Indian youth and help strengthen the country’s technology sector.
Experts believe the semiconductor sector is becoming extremely important globally because chips are now used in almost every electronic product, including mobile phones, computers, vehicles, medical equipment and industrial systems.
India has been trying to increase domestic semiconductor manufacturing in order to reduce dependence on imports and become a major player in the global technology supply chain.
PM Modi said India would continue to strengthen this sector in the coming years through partnerships, investment and skill development.
Apart from trade and business discussions, the visit also included an important cultural moment. During the visit, the Netherlands announced that it would return historic Chola dynasty copper plates to India.
The handover ceremony took place in the presence of PM Modi and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten.
According to PM Modi, the copper plates belong to the 11th century and are linked to the Chola Empire, one of the most powerful dynasties in Indian history.
The collection includes 21 large copper plates and three smaller ones, most of which contain inscriptions written in Tamil.
PM Modi said the plates officially recorded a promise made by Emperor Rajendra Chola I to his father Rajaraja Chola I. The inscriptions also describe the achievements and glory of the Chola dynasty.
The Prime Minister said Indians feel proud of the Chola Empire because of its rich culture, maritime strength and contributions to Indian history.
Historians consider the Chola Empire one of the most influential kingdoms in South India. The empire was known for its naval power, temple architecture, administration and trade links with other countries.
The return of the copper plates was seen as an important cultural gesture between India and the Netherlands.
PM Modi thanked the Dutch government for returning the historical artefacts and said such steps help preserve cultural heritage and strengthen mutual respect between nations.
The visit highlighted the growing relationship between India and the Netherlands not only in business and technology but also in cultural cooperation and historical understanding.
Both countries expressed confidence that the new agreements and partnerships would further strengthen ties in the coming years.
The meetings and MoUs signed during the visit are expected to improve cooperation in investment, innovation, advanced technology and cultural exchange, while opening new opportunities for businesses and young professionals in both countries.
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