Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten held official bilateral talks to elevate the India-Netherlands relationship to a strategic partnership.
Sharing a post on X on his remarks
during meeting with PM Rob Jetten of the Netherlands, PM Modi said, “I thank you very much for the warm welcome extended to me and my delegation. I am delighted to be visiting the Netherlands after nearly a decade. Over the past decade, the India-Netherlands partnership has made remarkable progress.
“We consider the Netherlands to be one of India’s most important partners. The Netherlands is one of India’s top five investors. Our historical, cultural, and people-to-people ties run very deep. Democratic values, a market economy, and responsible behaviour, these form part of our shared vision,” he added.
Thanking his Dutch counterpart for participating in the AI Impact Summit held in India this past February, PM Modi said, “In light of this growing cooperation, during India’s G20 Presidency in 2023, we invited the Netherlands to participate as a Guest Country. We are delighted that the former Prime Minister of the Netherlands also participated in the AI Impact Summit held in India this past February. India is the youngest nation in the world and the fastest-growing major economy globally. You represent the new generation of leadership in the Netherlands and Europe. We must combine the expertise of the Netherlands with India’s speed and skill across every sector, taking our cooperation in areas such as innovation, investment, sustainability, and defence to new dimensions.”
My remarks during meeting with PM Rob Jetten of the Netherlands.@MinPres https://t.co/3qVFbPnLUe
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 16, 2026
“With this shared vision, today we are elevating India-Netherlands relations to the level of a Strategic Partnership,” he added.
Modi Addresses CEO Roundtable
The Prime Minister interacted with leading Dutch business executives and industry representatives during a CEO roundtable. Speaking to business leaders, Modi pitched India as a major destination for investment and manufacturing, emphasising:
- India’s growing economy
- Ease of doing business reforms
- Expanding technology ecosystem
- Opportunities in clean energy and semiconductors
- The interaction aimed to encourage greater Dutch investment into India.
Chola Copper Plates To Return To India
A major cultural highlight of the visit was the formal announcement that rare 11th-century Chola Copper Plates will be repatriated from the Netherlands to India.
Modi attended the ceremonial handover event and called the return a “joyous moment for every Indian”.
The copper plates, preserved at Leiden University since the 19th century, contain Tamil inscriptions linked to the Chola Empire and are considered historically significant records.
The move forms part of India’s broader effort to bring back cultural artefacts housed overseas.
