PM Modi in Netherlands: PM holds bilateral talks with Dutch counterpart | As it happened

Following his bilateral talks with Dutch counterpart Rob Jetten, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that Netherlands is India's top 5 investors.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held a bilateral meeting with his Dutch counterpart Rob Jetten as part of his Netherlands visit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet his Dutch counterpart Rob Jetten as part of his Netherlands visit shortly.

During the CEO Round Table on Economic Ties in Netherlands, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the manufacturing cost in India is becoming very cost-effective, as he noted that his government recently implemented next-generation reforms in areas such as taxation, labour codes, and governance.

"Electronics, once a major import item, has now become India's largest export item. To take this manufacturing initiative to the next level, we are also offering incentives in several key sectors. You can take advantage of these incentives to manufacture in India for the entire world. Similarly, in the services sector, India has become an engine of efficiency and innovation thanks to its talent," he said. 

During the CEO Round Table on Economic Ties in Netherlands, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India remains the fastest growing economy of the world.

"Today marks my 12th anniversary as Prime Minister of the world's largest democracy. In these 12 years, through continuous reform, we have transformed our economic DNA," he said.

During the CEO Round Table on Economic Ties in Netherlands, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited Dutch businessmen to invest in India, pointing out that more than 300 Dutch companies are part of the India story today.

"It's because of your vision and the confidence on India that the Netherlands has become India's largest investor and second-largest trading partner from Europe. Your companies are not only well-known brands in India, but also brand ambassadors of India-Netherlands friendship," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is holding a meeting with Dutch CEOs in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has thanked the Netherlands for handing back 11th-century Chola dynasty copper plates to India. In a post on X, the prime minister said the Chola copper plates will be repatriated to India from the Netherlands. 

"The Chola Copper Plates are a set of 21 large plates and 3 small plates and largely contain texts in Tamil, one of the most beautiful languages of the world. They relate to the great Rajendra Chola I formalising an oral commitment made by his father, King Rajaraja I. They also showcase the greatness of the Cholas. We in India are immensely proud of the Cholas, their culture and their maritime prowess," he said.

Tata Electronics and Dutch semiconductor equipment major ASML have joined hands to enable chip manufacturing in India. ASML is known for having monopoly in a category of lithography equipment which is critical for production of advance small size semiconductors. Tata Electronics is setting up India's first semiconductor wafer fabrication plant, entailing an investment of Rs 91,000 crore.

"Through this partnership, ASML will enable the establishment and successful ramp of Tata Electronics' upcoming 300 mm (12 inch) semiconductor Fab in Dholera, Gujarat. This collaboration is an important step in the context of the intensifying strategic collaboration between India and the Netherlands in the field of critical technologies, such as semiconductor technology," a joint statement said.

"The collaboration between Tata Electronics and ASML will focus on deploying ASML's holistic suite of advanced lithography tools and solutions for the Dholera Fab. The use of ASML's industry-leading technologies is expected to ensure seamless operations at India's first commercial 300 mm semiconductor Fab," it added.

India and the Netherlands on Saturday signed a MoU over semiconductors. On India's part, the MoU was signed by Tata, while ASML was representing the Netherlands.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday participated in a ceremony for restitution of Chola copper plates in Netherlands. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has shared a video on micro-blogging site X (formerly Twitter) of the warm welcome he received upon his arrival in the Netherlands, while hailing the "cultural spirit" of Assam. 

"A glimpse of the culture of Assam added a special vibrancy to the community programme in the Netherlands. A wonderful example of Assam’s cultural spirit on the global stage," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has shared a video on X of the warm welcome he received upon his arrival in the Netherlands, while hailing the "glorious culture" of Maharashtra. 

"The glorious culture of Maharashtra came alive at the community programme in the Netherlands. Truly, a memorable celebration of Maharashtra’s traditions which are getting popular worldwide," he said.

Following his meeting with Netherlands' King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the two countries are connected by shared interests and a shared belief in building a future-ready planet.

"Met His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima at the Royal Palace. It was wonderful exchanging perspectives on boosting India-Netherlands friendship across key sectors like technology, innovation, sustainable growth, commerce and water resources," he said on X.

PM Modi on Saturday addressed the Indian diaspora in Netherlands and said it seems like The Hague has become a living symbol of Indian friendship. Click here to read more.

PM Modi posted, "The glorious culture of Maharashtra came alive at the community programme in the Netherlands. Truly, a memorable celebration of Maharashtra’s traditions which are getting popular worldwide."

PM Modi who is on a 2-day Netherlands tour, posted, "A glimpse of the culture of Assam added a special vibrancy to the community programme in the Netherlands. A wonderful example of Assam’s cultural spirit on the global stage."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of Nertherlands, during the second leg of his five nation visit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "Has Jhalmuri reached even here? In the recent Assembly elections, voter turnout stood at 80–90%, with a remarkably high participation rate among women... Voting records are being broken every year..."

Addressing the Indian diaspora in The Hague, Prime Minister Narendra Modi drew a symbolic comparison between the tulip and the lotus, saying both flowers carry a deeper message of resilience and growth. He said that whether a plant grows in water or on land, with the right nourishment it develops both beauty and strength. He added that the symbolism also reflects broader human and cultural values, where growth is possible in every circumstance when nurtured properly, reinforcing his message of optimism and shared progress.

Addressing the Indian diaspora in The Hague, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the strength and scale of India’s democratic participation, saying elections across states like Assam, West Bengal, Kerala and Puducherry have witnessed record voter turnout, in some cases reaching 80–90 per cent. He noted with emphasis the rising participation of women voters, calling it a significant and encouraging trend in India’s electoral journey. “Today, India’s voters are highly enthusiastic,” he said, adding that the country has over 90 crore registered voters, making it one of the largest democratic electorates in the world. Referring to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Prime Minister said that over 64 crore people exercised their franchise more than the total population of the European Union combined underscoring the scale of democratic engagement in India. He described India as the “Mother of Democracy,” saying this identity is a matter of pride for every citizen. PM Modi further said that when India progresses, it benefits the entire world, especially in times of global uncertainty. He pointed to recent challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing conflicts, and the global energy crisis, saying these disruptions have created serious pressure on the world economy and supply chains. He added that in such circumstances, global focus on resilience and stable supply systems has increased, and India and the Netherlands are working together in this direction to strengthen cooperation and address shared global challenges.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India is going through an unprecedented era of growth and achievement across multiple sectors. He noted that in recent years India successfully hosted the world’s largest AI summit as well as the G20 summit, describing them not as isolated events but as a reflection of a new national mindset. The Prime Minister highlighted India’s scale in digital transformation, saying that the country has built one of the world’s largest digital identity systems and one of the biggest government-backed financial inclusion programmes. He said India’s progress in infrastructure development is equally remarkable, with massive expansion in solar power capacity, expressways, metro networks, aviation infrastructure, and large-scale bridges and tunnels setting new global benchmarks. Most notably, PM Modi pointed to India’s achievements in space exploration, stating that the country has reached the Moon “where no one had gone before” marking a historic milestone in scientific capability. He also referred to advancements in nuclear energy, including the successful development and operation of fast breeder reactor technology, as evidence of India’s growing scientific strength. Calling it a “new era of scale and ambition,” the Prime Minister said India’s development journey is now defined by innovation, speed and global leadership across sectors, from technology and energy to infrastructure and space exploration.

Addressing the Indian diaspora in The Hague, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reflected on the political journey that began on May 16, 2014, when the Lok Sabha election results gave the Bharatiya Janata Party a full majority at the Centre. Calling the day historic, Modi said the bond between the BJP and the people of India became stronger from that moment. He added that the faith shown in him by crores of Indians has never allowed him to “bow down or stop.” Speaking emotionally, the Prime Minister said he had dedicated himself to patriotism from a very young age and that the people of India had become his family. “We have now chosen the path from ‘aham’ to ‘vayam’ from self to collective spirit,” he said, drawing loud applause from the audience.

Addressing the Indian community in The Hague, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Indians may live in different parts of the world, but they never forget their roots and always carry India’s vibrancy and values with them. Praising the contribution of the Indian diaspora in the Netherlands, Modi said he was proud of their achievements and the role they have played in strengthening ties between the two countries. Extending warm wishes to the people of the Netherlands on behalf of 140 crore Indians, the Prime Minister said the friendship between India and the Netherlands continues to grow stronger through people-to-people connections.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received an enthusiastic welcome from the Indian diaspora in The Hague as hundreds gathered to attend a special community event during his visit to the Netherlands. Calling The Hague a “symbol of India-Netherlands friendship,” the Prime Minister highlighted the growing ties between the two countries while interacting with members of the Indian community.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a rousing welcome from the Indian community in The Hague as hundreds gathered to attend a special diaspora event during his visit. The atmosphere turned energetic with loud cheers, chants and applause as PM Modi arrived on stage to address the audience. Members of the Indian diaspora waved flags and greeted the Prime Minister enthusiastically, reflecting the strong connection many overseas Indians continue to share with their homeland. The venue echoed with excitement as people welcomed him with slogans and applause before his speech began.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at the venue for the community event in The Hague and watches young artists perform and give glimpses of the Indian culture. 

PM Narendra Modi tweeted, "In a short while from now, will be addressing a community programme in The Hague, Netherlands. It’s always a delight to interact with the Indian diaspora."

Soon after arriving in Amsterdam, PM Modi shared a message on social media highlighting the importance of the visit. He said the India-EU Free Trade Agreement has created fresh opportunities for stronger trade and investment ties. The Prime Minister also said both countries can work more closely in sectors such as water management, clean energy and advanced technology.

Discussions between PM Modi and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten are expected to focus heavily on trade expansion, semiconductors, renewable energy, innovation and defence cooperation. Officials said the visit comes at a crucial stage in India-Netherlands relations as both countries look to deepen strategic and economic engagement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Amsterdam on Friday as part of his ongoing five-nation tour. He was welcomed at the airport by senior Dutch officials, including Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen and Rear Admiral Ludger Brummelaar. India’s Ambassador to the Netherlands Kumar Tuhin was also present to receive the Prime Minister.