Netherlands PM’s 2-day visit from May 24

The Prime Minister of The Netherlands, Mark Rutte, will be on a two-day visit to India from May 24. Rutte’s visit comes within a year of PM Narendra Modi’s visit to The Netherlands last June. This will also be Rutte’s second visit to India since June 2015, but the first after being re-elected as PM in 2017. The visit is expected to boost the economic and political cooperation between the two countries.

Netherlands is an important member of the European Union and a strong supporter of India-EU annual summit. The Netherlands is the fifth largest investor in India with a cumulative investment of $ 23 billion for the period 2000 to December 2017. India and The Netherlands have a bilateral trade of $ 5.39 billion.

The Netherlands is also home to a 2,35,000-strong Indian Diaspora, the largest in mainland Europe.

The engagement with the Dutch assumes greater importance for India in the wake of Brexit and present political landscape in Europe where it is working towards renewing its partnership with the EU.

The EU had firmly backed India’s membership to join the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).

During Rutte’s visit to India last year Modi had termed Netherlands as a “natural partner” of India in its economic development.

Rutte will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising of his Deputy PM and Minister for Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality; Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation; Minister for Infrastructure and Water Management; and Minister for Medical Care.

In addition, about 231 business delegates representing 130 companies have registered to join the Trade Mission accompanying Rutte to India.

The India-Dutch CEOs forum will take place in New Delhi. The companies joining the Trade Mission represent the agrifood, horticulture, logistics, education, smart cities, water, health and life sciences, IT, and maritime sectors. Apart from the official program in Delhi, Rutte is likely to visit the ISRO campus in Bengaluru.