India, Netherlands building trusted future-ready supply chain: PM Modi

New Delhi: India and the Netherlands are working to build a trusted, transparent and future-ready supply chain, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday, while warning that the world was heading towards a "decade of disasters" amid wars and the energy crisis.

Addressing the Indian community in The Hague, Modi said bilateral cooperation with the Netherlands was steadily expanding, with technology and innovation emerging as key pillars of the partnership.

Highlighting growing economic ties, Modi said the Netherlands was among India's largest export destinations in Europe and one of its leading investment partners. He added that the India-EU Free Trade Agreement would open up fresh opportunities for both sides.


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Referring to global disruptions, Modi said, "Today, humanity faces many major challenges. First came the Corona pandemic; then wars broke out, and now there is an energy crisis. This decade is turning into a decade of disasters for the world."

Warning of the consequences of prolonged instability, he said, "If these situations are not changed rapidly, the achievements of the past many decades will be washed away, and a huge section of the world's population will drown in poverty."

Against this backdrop, Modi stressed the importance of resilient supply chains. "The world is talking about a resilient supply chain, and for that India and the Netherlands are making endeavours to establish a trusted and transparent future-ready supply chain," he said.

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Drawing a symbolic parallel between the two countries, Modi said, "The Netherlands is known for tulips, just as India is known for the lotus. Both the tulip and the lotus teach us that whether the roots are in water or in the earth, one gains both beauty and strength."

The Prime Minister also highlighted India's transformation in sectors such as AI, semiconductors and startups. "Today, India is dreaming big. India's youth aspires to take the country forward in AI and semiconductors. India is home to the world's third-largest startup ecosystem," he said.

He said India was emerging as both "technology-driven and humanity-driven", while continuing to modernise without losing its civilisational roots.