Last Updated on October 27, 2026 12:06 pm by INDIAN AWAAZ
By Andalib Akhter
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal held a series of high-level meetings with Dutch government leaders, parliamentarians and business executives during his visit to the Netherlands, focusing on strengthening bilateral trade, investment and economic cooperation.
According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB), the discussions centred on creating new business opportunities, expanding market access and enhancing collaboration between Indian and Dutch companies across strategic sectors.
During the visit, Goyal met Dutch Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, Economic Affairs and Climate Minister Heleen Herbert, and Arthur van Dijk, the King’s Commissioner of North Holland. The meetings explored ways to further strengthen economic engagement and unlock fresh avenues for bilateral cooperation.
The minister also interacted with members of the Dutch House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation and the Senate Committee on European Affairs. Discussions covered India-Netherlands economic relations, trade and investment prospects, and the broader India-European Union economic partnership.
India-EU FTA Takes Centre Stage
A key highlight of the visit was the India-Netherlands Business Forum, jointly chaired by Goyal and Sjoerdsma. The forum attracted around 200 participants, including leading representatives from businesses in both countries.
Deliberations focused on opportunities arising from the proposed India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA), with participants discussing ways to expand bilateral trade, strengthen investment partnerships, improve market access and deepen cooperation across multiple sectors.
Business leaders from both sides highlighted the complementary strengths of the Indian and Dutch economies and stressed the need for stronger industry-to-industry engagement to translate FTA-related opportunities into concrete investments and commercial partnerships. The forum also underscored the importance of integrating supply chains more closely between India and Europe.
Engagement with Dutch Industry
As part of his outreach to industry, Goyal held one-on-one meetings with chief executives of major Dutch companies operating in sectors such as semiconductor technology, electronics, logistics, energy, industrial solutions, technology and retail.
The meetings focused on business priorities and potential areas of collaboration between Indian and Dutch enterprises. The minister also participated in a roundtable interaction with senior executives from 15 Dutch companies, organised by the Embassy of India in The Hague in collaboration with HSBC Netherlands.
The roundtable served as a platform to discuss investment opportunities, commercial partnerships and measures to deepen private-sector engagement between the two countries.
Strategic Partnership Gains Momentum
Addressing the media, Goyal highlighted the growing momentum in India-Netherlands relations following the elevation of bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership and progress on the India-EU FTA discussions.
He emphasized opportunities to expand trade, investment and technology cooperation, while describing the Netherlands as an important gateway for Indian businesses seeking greater access to European markets.
The minister also showcased India’s strong economic growth prospects and investment potential, reaffirming New Delhi’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the Netherlands and the wider European Union.