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India-Netherlands Joint Statement on the visit of PM of India to Netherlands

Overview

The India–Netherlands Joint Statement on the visit of the Prime Minister of India to the Netherlands refers to the formal joint communiqué issued by the Government of India and the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands on the occasion of a bilateral visit by the Indian Prime Minister to the Netherlands. Such joint statements traditionally summarise the outcomes of high-level discussions, identify areas of cooperation, and set out forward-looking commitments between the two countries.

Key facts

Type of document Bilateral joint statement
Parties Republic of India and Kingdom of the Netherlands
Issued by Ministry of External Affairs (India) / Prime Minister's Office (PMO), via pmindia.gov.in
Context Official visit of the Prime Minister of India to the Netherlands
Reported May 2026

Background

India and the Netherlands established diplomatic relations in 1947, shortly after Indian independence. Over the decades, the relationship has evolved into a broad-based partnership covering trade and investment, water management, agriculture, science and technology, and people-to-people contacts. The Netherlands is consistently among the largest sources of foreign direct investment into India from the European Union and is one of India's most significant trading partners in Europe.

High-level political exchanges between the two countries have included visits by Indian Prime Ministers and Dutch Prime Ministers, as well as engagements on the sidelines of multilateral summits such as the G20, the United Nations General Assembly, and EU–India fora.

Areas of bilateral cooperation

India–Netherlands engagement has historically focused on the following themes, which typically feature in joint statements during prime ministerial visits:

  • Trade and investment: facilitating Dutch investment in India and Indian investment in the Netherlands, with the Netherlands acting as a major gateway for Indian companies into Europe.
  • Water and climate: cooperation on integrated water resources management, river rejuvenation, delta planning and climate adaptation, building on Dutch expertise in water technology.
  • Agriculture and food processing: collaboration in horticulture, dairy, agri-logistics and cold chains.
  • Science, technology and innovation: joint research programmes, semiconductor and high-tech manufacturing, and start-up linkages.
  • Health and life sciences: cooperation on pharmaceuticals, medical technology and public health.
  • Defence and maritime security: dialogue on Indo-Pacific issues, maritime cooperation and defence industrial linkages.
  • Education and people-to-people ties: student mobility, academic partnerships and the Indian diaspora in the Netherlands.

Institutional framework

Bilateral relations are guided by mechanisms including the Foreign Office Consultations, the Joint Economic Committee, and sector-specific working groups on water, agriculture and science and technology. Indian missions in the Netherlands include the Embassy of India in The Hague, while the Netherlands maintains its embassy in New Delhi along with consulates in other Indian cities.

Significance

A prime ministerial visit and the accompanying joint statement signal a high-level political endorsement of the bilateral agenda. They generally serve to:

  • Reaffirm shared commitments to a rules-based international order and multilateralism.
  • Provide political direction to ongoing sectoral cooperation.
  • Announce new partnerships, memoranda of understanding, or upgraded dialogue mechanisms.
  • Strengthen the India–European Union relationship, given the Netherlands' role within the EU.

References

  • Prime Minister's Office, Government of India — pmindia.gov.in
  • Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India — mea.gov.in
  • Embassy of India, The Hague.
  • Government of the Netherlands — government.nl