Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook a series of engagements on the second day of his visit to the Netherlands yesterday, ranging from community interactions to a meeting with the Dutch Royal Family. In a significant cultural moment, Prime Minister Modi and the Prime Minister of the Netherlands witnessed the historic restitution of Chola-era copper plates.
More than artefacts, these plates represent an invaluable chapter of India’s heritage and civilisation, and their homecoming holds deep emotional significance for the people of India. The day also advanced India’s technology agenda. Tata Electronics signed an MoU with semiconductor leader ASML to strengthen India’s semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem. Under the MoU, ASML will support the establishment and expansion of Tata Electronics’ semiconductor facility in Dholera, Gujarat.
The two leaders jointly interacted with CEOs of leading Dutch companies from energy, ports, health, agriculture, trade, and technology. Business leaders presented sectoral strategies for India across three clusters: Semiconductors, Technology and Innovation; Infrastructure, Logistics and Maritime; and Sustainability, Energy and Agriculture. The visit concluded with 17 substantive outcomes across strategic sectors, including: a Joint Working Group on Renewable Energy and a Green Hydrogen Roadmap to accelerate clean energy cooperation; Critical Minerals Cooperation to secure supply chains; Dutch collaboration on Water Management through Gujarat’s Kalpasar Project; Indo-Dutch Centres of Excellence for floriculture in Tripura and dairy training in Bengaluru under Agriculture & Skill Development; an MoU between Nalanda and Groningen universities for Education & Research; and enhanced Institutional Cooperation in Health and Customs, among other areas.
Following a visit to the Afsluitdijk dam, Prime Minister Modi will depart for Sweden today for the next leg of his 6-day, 5-nation tour.