India taps Dutch tech, elevates ties to strategic partnership

New Delhi: India and the Netherlands have upgraded their ties to the level of strategic partnership with focus on political dialogue, defence, investments, mobility and migration.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Dutch counterpart Rob Jetten during their meeting in The Hague late on Saturday also agreed to adopt an ambitious Roadmap for Strategic Partnership to deepen cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, defence and security, emerging and critical technologies, water management, maritime sector, renewable energy and education.

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The roadmap has proposed structured defence services interaction to coordinate bilateral military cooperation, including tie-ups between defence industry and research centres. The two countries decided to enhance maritime cooperation through mutual participation in naval exercises and promote interactions between respective armed forces in the framework of the Netherlands' growing interest in the Indo-Pacific Region, aimed at increasing cooperation in the context of the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium.

The countries have decided to cooperate to facilitate fair mobility of students, academics, researchers and highly skilled professionals, including young professionals and implement the Memorandum of Understanding on Mobility and Migration. The Netherlands houses a growing Indian population including professionals and students besides investors.

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Following the official talks at The Hague, 14 agreements and memoranda of understanding were concluded in the fields of technology, green energy, trade and mobility among other sectors. During the talks, the leaders attached importance to expanding the trade and investment relationship between the two countries.

Modi meets Dutch CEOs

Modi also met CEOs of leading Dutch companies in sectors like energy, ports, health, agriculture trade, and technology. He encouraged Dutch companies to explore opportunities in India, particularly in maritime, renewable energy, digital technologies, semiconductors, AI, and healthcare sectors.