India Confidently Shaping Its Future: PM Modi in Netherlands
Prime Minister highlights India-Netherlands partnership and diaspora role in Viksit Bharat journey
- Narendra Modi addresses Indian community in The Hague
- PM praises diaspora for strengthening India-Netherlands friendship
- Focus laid on trade, technology and innovation partnership
- OCI eligibility expanded for Surinami-Hindustani diaspora
GG News Bureau
THE HAGUE, 16th May: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday addressed the Indian diaspora in The Hague and praised the community for serving as a strong bridge of friendship between India and Netherlands.
The Prime Minister received a warm welcome from members of the Indian community and friends of India during the reception event in the Dutch city.
Addressing the gathering, Modi appreciated the contributions of the Indian diaspora to Dutch society and highlighted the deep historical links of the Surinami-Hindustani community with India.
He commended the community for preserving and celebrating Indian cultural traditions across generations.
The Prime Minister said the growing presence of Indian professionals in the technology sector and increasing number of Indian students in Dutch universities were strengthening the modern partnership between the two countries.
He also noted that sports such as cricket and hockey were adding new vibrancy to people-to-people ties between India and the Netherlands.
Highlighting bilateral cooperation, Modi said trade and economic relations between the two nations were steadily expanding, with the Netherlands emerging as one of India’s largest export destinations in Europe and a major investment partner.
The Prime Minister expressed confidence that the proposed India-European Union Free Trade Agreement would open new economic opportunities for both sides.
Speaking about India’s development journey, Modi underlined the country’s progress in infrastructure, manufacturing, clean energy and digital transformation under the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
He said India was shaping its future with confidence while also contributing to global growth and prosperity.
The Prime Minister assured overseas Indians that the Government of India remained committed to their welfare and called upon the diaspora to contribute actively towards India’s development goals.
Modi also highlighted the liberalisation of Overseas Citizen of India eligibility for the Surinami-Hindustani community, extending it from the fourth generation to the sixth generation.
The Netherlands is home to nearly 200,000 members of the Surinami-Hindustani community, making it the largest population of Indian-origin people in mainland Europe.
