Your Excellency Prime Minister Rob Jetten,
Delegates from both countries,
Business leaders of the Netherlands,
Namaskar!
It is a great pleasure for me to be here today among the leaders of some of the world’s most innovative companies. Today, more than 300 Dutch companies are part of the India story. Because of your vision and confidence in India, the Netherlands has become India’s largest investor from Europe and its second-largest trading partner.
Friends,
Your companies in India are not only well-known brands, but also brand ambassadors of India–Netherlands friendship. We are delighted that NXP, Philips, and Prosus are creating world-leading solutions together with India’s talent.
Companies like APM, Damen, and Royal Vopak are transforming India’s ports, shipping, and logistics sector. Many others are working with India in agriculture and sustainability to ensure a better future for the world.
Recently, an MoU was signed between ASML and Tata—now semiconductor chips will be manufactured in India with ASML’s equipment. Today, in all your words, the optimism towards India is clearly visible. Turning this optimism into outcomes is our guarantee.
Friends,
Today’s India is a symbol of scale and stability. Speaking of scale, we are the world’s fastest-growing major economy and also the largest talent pool. In infrastructure, clean energy, or connectivity—India’s speed cannot be matched anywhere in the world. That is why India today contributes seventeen percent to global growth.
And on stability—serving as the Prime Minister of the world’s largest democracy, today marks twelve years for me in this role. In these twelve years, through continuous reforms, we have transformed our economic DNA. Our direction has been clear—to provide policy predictability to the private sector and to expand opportunities for them.
Space, mining, or nuclear energy—we have opened every sector to the private sector. We are continuously reducing compliances and increasing ease of doing business. Recently, we carried out next-generation reforms in taxation, labor codes, and governance. Manufacturing in India is now becoming highly cost-effective.
Electronics, which earlier was a major import item for India, has today become India’s largest export item. To take this manufacturing growth to the next level, we are providing incentives in many important sectors. By taking advantage of this, you can manufacture in India for the entire world.
Similarly, in the services sector, India has become the engine of efficiency and innovation, powered by its talent. All global technology companies have opened their Global Capability Centers in India.
We invite all of you to design and innovate in India. And there could be no better time than today.
Friends,
From 2026, a new golden era in India–Europe relations has begun. This year, we signed the historic India–European Union Free Trade Agreement. This agreement between the world’s two largest democratic and responsible powers will become a strong foundation for shared prosperity.
To unlock the full potential of this FTA, Prime Minister Jetten and I are taking several important decisions today. We are elevating the trusted India–Netherlands partnership to a strategic partnership. We are launching an ambitious joint roadmap in green hydrogen. We are making our relations in technology future-ready.
We are also strengthening talent mobility, university partnerships, and joint R&D between our two countries. In other words, the future of the India–Netherlands partnership is brighter than ever before.
Friends,
The strengthening strategic partnership between India and Europe is giving new inspiration to our business relations. Moving forward rapidly in this direction is now in your hands. I am confident that you will expand your scope, investment, and ambition in India. And along with you, Europe’s entire innovation ecosystem will also come to India.
Friends,
There is a saying in the Netherlands:
“Ships are safe in harbour, but ships are not built to stay in harbour.”
Who can understand this better than the Dutch business community? Your country has for centuries advanced in search of new opportunities. I assure you—your search in India will be successful and meaningful. Now you must venture more boldly into India.
Bedankt.
Thank you very much.
