The Haque/New Delhi, 16 May (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in the Netherlands for an intensive two‑day official visit, during which he is scheduled to meet King Willem‑Alexander and Queen Máxima on Saturday before sitting down with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten for a series of high‑stakes economic and security talks. The itinerary, as outlined by the Netherlands government, is set to culminate in the formalisation of a Strategic Partnership between India and The Hague, along with several sector‑specific cooperation agreements.
Today,PM Modi will attend an audience with King Willem‑Alexander and Queen Máxima at Paleis Huis ten Bosch in The Hague. Following the royal reception, the Dutch monarchy will host a luncheon in his honour for the Indian Prime Minister and a section of his delegation. Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen is expected to join the event, alongside chief executives of leading Dutch corporations and representatives from the arts, culture and science sectors.
Later in the day, Prime Minister Jetten will receive Modi at the Catshuis, the official prime‑ministerial residence, where both leaders will participate in a CEO‑focused roundtable hosted by Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sigrid Kaag‑Sjoerdsma.
In the afternoon, a cooperation agreement between Indian and Dutch entities is expected to be signed in the presence of the two prime ministers, with emphasis on technology, green energy and advanced manufacturing. Another roundtable with Dutch business leaders will then follow on economic cooperation, with Sjoerdsma opening the session and both Modi and Jetten delivering short closing remarks.
In the evening, Jetten will host PM Modi for a delegation‑level meeting and an informal dinner at the Catshuis. The discussions are expected to cover global and regional security dynamics, including the Middle East and the war in Ukraine, as well as collaboration in defence, emerging technologies and trade. Several agreements forming part of the broader India–Netherlands Strategic Partnership are slated to be exchanged during the visit, building on the defence‑industrial roadmap and “Strategic Partnership on Water” signed in recent years.
On Sunday, 17 May, PM Modi and PM Jetten will conclude the official engagements with a working visit centred on water management and climate‑resilient infrastructure. The Dutch government has described this leg as a continuation of long‑standing cooperation on coastal protection, urban water systems and flood‑risk governance, areas where The Hague is recognised as a global hub of expertise.
---------------
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
