Modi Urges Stronger India-Netherlands Ties in Green Hydrogen, Supply Chains

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday pitched deeper cooperation between India and the Netherlands in areas such as resilient supply chains and green hydrogen, while highlighting India’s rapid digital and technological transformation during an address to the Indian diaspora in The Hague.

Speaking against the backdrop of global economic and geopolitical uncertainty, Modi said the world was grappling with successive crises ranging from the Covid-19 pandemic to wars and energy disruptions.

“Today, the world is struggling because of new problems… first there was corona and then new wars happened… we now have an energy crisis,” Modi said, adding that the world risked entering a “decade of disasters” if such challenges were not resolved quickly.

Positioning India as a key economic and technological partner amid global uncertainty, Modi said countries were increasingly focusing on resilient supply chains and that cooperation between India and the Netherlands would be critical in emerging sectors such as green hydrogen, semiconductors and innovation.

“Amid such times, Netherlands and India are working hard to build resilient supply chains,” he said.

Addressing members of the Indian community, Modi also underscored India’s growing global stature in areas such as artificial intelligence, digitalisation and startups.

“Today’s India is going through a phase of unprecedented transformation,” he said, citing India’s hosting of the AI Summit and the G20 Summit, along with initiatives such as the world’s largest digital identity and financial inclusion programmes.

Modi said India’s youth aspired to make the country a leader in sectors such as AI and semiconductors and noted that India now hosts the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem.

During the event, Modi also reflected on the BJP-led government completing 12 years since its first majority victory in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

“After decades, a stable government with an absolute majority was formed in India,” he said. “The trust of crores of Indians does not let me stop or tire.”

The Prime Minister praised the Indian diaspora in the Netherlands for preserving Indian cultural values across generations despite living overseas.

“The colour of the passport may change, the address may change, and even the time zone may change, but wherever the children of Maa Bharti live, this warmth and vibrancy always remain,” he said.

Modi is scheduled to hold talks with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof and meet King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima during the visit. Discussions are expected to focus on semiconductors, green hydrogen, defence, innovation and water management.

The Netherlands visit is part of Modi’s five-nation tour from May 15-20 aimed at deepening India’s strategic engagement with Europe and the Gulf region across sectors including trade, technology, energy and green growth. Modi began the tour with a visit to the United Arab Emirates.

After the Netherlands, Modi will travel to Sweden, where he will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and jointly address the European Round Table for Industry alongside Ursula von der Leyen. Discussions are expected to focus on artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, green transition and resilient supply chains.

The Prime Minister will also participate in the third India-Nordic Summit in Oslo on May 19 and hold bilateral talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Leaders from Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden are also expected to attend the summit.