Blitz Bureau
INDIA and the Netherlands have agreed to strengthen bilateral trade and economic cooperation at high-level meetings held by Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal during his visit to the European nation, according to an official statement. The Commerce Secretary’s visit from April 24-26 underlined India’s commitment to strengthening its economic engagement with the Netherlands, a key European partner.
The discussions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Economic Affairs laid the groundwork for enhanced collaboration. The CEOs Roundtable fostered new business connections, with Dutch companies expressing keen interest in India’s growing market and investment opportunities, the statement said. The engagements at the Port of Rotterdam and ASML opened new avenues for cooperation in maritime infrastructure and semiconductors, aligning with India’s economic priorities.
Barthwal commenced his visit with a productive discussion with Michiel Sweers, Director General for Foreign Economic Relations, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in The Hague. The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral trade and economic ties, inter alia, through the setting up of the Joint Trade and Investment Committee (JTIC) mechanism.
Further, the meeting covered diverse issues of bilateral trade and economic relationship, advancing strategic economic cooperation, fostering policy alignment, and addressing trade barriers to facilitate smoother market access for Indian and Dutch businesses.
A highlight of the visit was the CEOs Round-table Conference organised by the Embassy of India. Attended by approximately 40 representatives from leading Dutch and Indian companies, as well as business chambers and trade organisations, the round table facilitated discussions on trade opportunities, challenges and actionable solutions.