Investment, AI and Semiconductors: PM Modi's Big Pitch in Netherlands

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday praised the Indian community in Netherlands, saying the warmth and enthusiasm shown during an event in The Hague made him momentarily forget he was outside India. Addressing members of the Indian diaspora during his five-nation tour, PM Modi said: "It's always a delight to interact with the Indian diaspora. So much love and enthusiasm... to tell you the truth, for a while I even forgot that I'm in the Netherlands. It feels just like some festival is going on somewhere in India." The Prime Minister is currently on a tour from May 15 to 20, having earlier visited the United Arab Emirates. During his speech in The Hague, PM Modi praised the contributions made by Indians living in the Netherlands to the country's

economy and society. "Every Indian takes pride in the contributions you are making to the society and economy of the Netherlands," he said. He also thanked the Dutch government and people "on behalf of 140 crore Indians". PM Modi described The Hague as a "living symbol of Indian friendship" and said the spirit of Indian culture remained strong among overseas communities. "The colour of the passport, address and time zone can change," he said, "but no matter where the children of Maa Bharati live, this vibrancy and excitement and the motivation to celebrate life will always remain with them."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hyquB4AvOo

Dutch Investment in India

Earlier on Saturday, PM Modi addressed a CEO roundtable and invited Dutch companies to "design, innovate and manufacture in India". He said India had emerged as "a symbol of scale and stability" and argued that no country could match its pace in infrastructure, clean energy and connectivity. "This is why India is contributing 17% to global growth," PM Modi told business leaders. ThePrime Minister said his government had opened sectors including space, mining and nuclear energy to private companies as part of wider economic reforms. "We are continuously reducing compliance and increasing the ease of doing business," he said. "We have recently carried out next-generation reforms in taxation, labour code and governance."

Focus on AI and Semiconductors

Speaking to the diaspora audience, PM Modi also highlighted India's ambitions in emerging technologies, saying young Indians now aspired to lead in sectors such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors. "Today, India is dreaming big. India's youth aspires to propel the country forward in the fields of AI and semiconductors," he said. He noted that India now had the world's third-largest startup ecosystem and said Indian startups were increasingly active in AI, defence and space technology. "Our startups are doing remarkable work in AI, defence and space sector," PM Modi added. The Prime Minister also pointed to India's digital infrastructure, including its biometric identification programme and financial inclusion schemes, describing the country's pace of digitalisation as "unprecedented". "India is also operating the world's largest government-funded health insurance scheme," he added.