India, Netherlands elevating ties to strategic partnership, says PM Modi
India and the Netherlands decided to elevate their relations to the level of strategic partnership on Saturday, May 16, 2026, following extensive talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Dutch counterpart Rob Jetten amid changing global geopolitics.
Mr Modi began his two-day visit to The Hague on Friday, May 15, 2026, as part of a four-nation European tour aimed at strengthening bilateral ties in a number of key areas.
India and the Netherlands have also signed a number of agreements to further enhance their cooperation in various fields.
“There has been significant progress in India-Dutch relations over the last decade,” Mr. Modi said in his televised opening remarks during talks with Dutch Prime Minister Jetten.
The Netherlands is one of India’s top trade destinations in Europe and bilateral trade will reach $27.8 billion in 2024-25. The European country is India’s fourth largest investor with cumulative foreign direct investment of $55.6 billion.
In his speech, the Prime Minister said that India considers the Netherlands among its most important partners as the historical and people-to-people relations between the two sides are “deeply” rooted.
“Democratic values, market economy and responsible behavior are part of our common approach. Our cooperation in the fields of water, health and education makes the lives of our people better,” he said.
Mr Modi also highlighted India’s economic growth.
The Prime Minister suggested that Dutch expertise and India’s “speed and skill” should converge in every sector.
“We need to take our cooperation in the fields of innovation, investment, sustainability and defense to new heights. Within the framework of this common vision, we are taking India-Netherlands relations to the level of strategic partnership,” Mr. Modi said.
In his comments, Mr. Jetten also drew attention to various important aspects of the developing ties between the two countries and announced that the relations were elevated to the level of strategic partnership.
Ahead of the bilateral talks, Prime Minister Modi, along with Mr. Jetten, interacted with prominent CEOs of leading Dutch companies in various sectors such as energy, ports, healthcare, agriculture, trade and technology.
Modi invites Dutch companies to India
Prime Minister Modi invited Dutch companies to explore opportunities in India, especially in the maritime, renewable energy, digital technologies, semiconductors, artificial intelligence and healthcare sectors.
“We are constantly reducing compliance and improving the ease of doing business. We have recently implemented next-generation reforms in taxation, labor law and governance,” he told business leaders.
Mr. Modi said manufacturing in India has become highly cost-effective and has become an engine of efficiency and innovation in the service sector.
“We invite you all to design and innovate in India. There is no better time for this than today,” Mr. Modi said.
“Today’s India is the symbol of scale and stability. In terms of scale, we are also the world’s fastest growing major economy and the world’s largest talent pool. Be it infrastructure, clean energy or connectivity, no one in the world can match India’s pace,” he said.
“And on stability, I have completed 12 years as the Prime Minister of the world’s largest democracy. In these 12 years, we have transformed our economic DNA with continuous reforms. Our direction was clear; to bring policy predictability to the private sector and increase opportunities for them.”
Mr Modi said his government was opening up every sector to the private sector, be it space, mining or nuclear energy.
The two Prime Ministers underlined the importance of early implementation of the India-EU-FTA.
It was published – 17 May 2026 05:03 IST
