PM Modi holds detail talks with his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte in New Delhi
Our Correspondent / New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held talks with his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte in New Delhi. The two leaders reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations and discussed issues of mutual interest.
After the meeting, the Netherlands signed the International Solar Agreement and became the 64th country to do so. India and the Netherlands also signed several agreements across different sectors including education, water, agrifood, horticulture, IT and Health.
In his press statement, Mr Modi said, he had urged the Netherlands to join the International Solar Alliance. He expressed happiness that the Netherlands became a member of the ISA. The Prime Minister said, areas of agriculture and food processing are important to India, and the Netherlands has expertise in both the fields. He added that Indo-Dutch Centre of Excellence for vegetables has started in Pune’s Baramati.
Mr Modi pointed out that several Dutch companies are already working in the country and India is an attractive destination of investment for Netherlands. Both Prime Ministers participated at the India-Dutch CEOs round table.
They explored strengthening cooperation in sectors like agriculture and food processing, horticulture, water management, logistics, life sciences, and health among other areas.
Mark Rutte is in India on a two-day visit accompanied by a high-level delegation.
According to data for 2016-17, the Netherlands was the fifth largest foreign investor in India. Globally, the Netherlands is India’s 28th largest trading partner. Within the European Union, the Netherlands is India’s sixth largest trading partner. Between 2016-17, there was a trade of 6.9 billion US dollars between the two countries. At present, 174 Indian companies have their presence in the Netherlands. Assocham established an office in the Netherlands in December 2015. In February 2016, a branch of the Netherlands-India Chamber of Commerce and Trade (NICCT) was established in Mumbai.
Both countries also share stron cultural ties. The Indian community in the Netherlands is the second largest by population. There are about 2 lakh 35,000 people of Indian origin in the Netherlands who act as a strong cultural link between the two countries. In 2017, both countries celebrated 70 years of diplomatic relations. PM Modi had travelled to the Netherlands in June 2017 to mark the occasion and it is within a year that Mark Rutte has returned that visit. Relations have only grown stronger.
After his arrival, Mr Rutte addressed a business event. He also addressed the Indo-Dutch Ganga Forum. The Dutch Prime Minister said, cleaning the Ganges is not an easy task and the Netherlands is with India in this initiative.
He said, the government, private sector and other agencies should collectively work together in this mission. Later in the evening, the visiting dignitary will leave for Bengaluru. During his stay there, Mr Rutte will visit the ISRO campus.