India PM Modi with Netherlands’ PM Rob Jetten.
The Hague/New Delhi, May 17, 2026 — India and the Netherlands have formally elevated their bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership, unveiling an ambitious five-year roadmap aimed at deepening cooperation across trade, semiconductors, clean energy, maritime security, defence, and emerging technologies.
The agreement was reached during talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten in The Hague on May 16, with both leaders adopting the “Roadmap of India-Netherlands Strategic Partnership (2026–2030)” to guide relations over the next five years.
The roadmap outlines a broad framework of time-bound initiatives and institutional mechanisms intended to strengthen collaboration in nearly every major sector of the bilateral relationship.
At the political level, the two countries agreed to institutionalize annual meetings between foreign ministers and maintain regular engagements between heads of government, cabinet ministers, and senior officials to monitor implementation of the strategic roadmap.
Economic cooperation forms one of the central pillars of the agreement. India and the Netherlands will use the Joint Trade and Investment Committee (JTIC) to boost bilateral trade and investments in sectors including renewable energy, semiconductors, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, agriculture, maritime development, and medical technology.
Both countries also pledged to strengthen supply chain resilience through industrial partnerships, joint ventures, and technological collaboration, particularly in critical raw materials and semiconductor manufacturing.
A major highlight of the roadmap is an expanded partnership on semiconductors and emerging technologies. The two sides agreed to deepen research cooperation in artificial intelligence, photonics, quantum technologies, cybersecurity, and advanced chip manufacturing.
The Netherlands’ semiconductor ecosystem — home to global technology leader ASML — will be linked more closely with India’s Semiconductor Mission. The agreement also supports collaboration between Dutch universities and leading Indian institutions including the IITs and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), with participation from companies such as NXP, Tata, CG Semi, and ASML.
Climate and energy transition cooperation emerged as another major focus area. India and the Netherlands will establish a Joint Working Group on Renewable Energy and jointly develop plans for a “green hydrogen corridor” connecting India with European markets through Dutch infrastructure.
The roadmap also commits both nations to work together on biofuels, circular economy projects, battery storage, waste-to-energy initiatives, and sustainable urban development.
Maritime cooperation is expected to expand significantly under the agreement. Both countries plan to develop a “Green and Digital Sea Corridor” aimed at creating an environmentally sustainable and digitally integrated shipping route between India and the Netherlands.
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PM Modi and PM Jetten at India-Netherlands CEO Round Table
The initiative is expected to support India’s ambitions to become a major exporter of green hydrogen to Europe while promoting cleaner maritime logistics and port operations.
In the field of water management, the Netherlands — globally recognized for its expertise in flood control and coastal engineering — will continue partnering with India on river basin management, urban water systems, flood resilience, and projects linked to the Ganga Basin and the National Mission for Clean Ganga.
The roadmap also strengthens collaboration in agriculture, biotechnology, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and disease surveillance, including joint work on antimicrobial resistance, digital health, and climate-linked public health risks.
Defence and security cooperation was another key area addressed in the agreement. India and the Netherlands will increase naval cooperation, expand military exchanges, and explore a future Defence Industrial Roadmap to strengthen collaboration between defence industries and research institutions in both countries.
The two sides also committed to enhancing cooperation in cyber security, counterterrorism, maritime security, and intelligence-sharing while continuing discussions on a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty and a new extradition treaty.
The agreement additionally seeks to improve migration and mobility frameworks for students, researchers, skilled professionals, and academics. Both countries pledged to facilitate fair migration while jointly addressing irregular migration issues.
Cultural diplomacy and people-to-people ties also feature prominently in the roadmap, with both sides committing to expand museum partnerships, heritage conservation projects, tourism exchanges, and efforts related to the restitution of cultural artifacts.
The Netherlands is home to a significant Indian diaspora community, which both governments acknowledged as an important bridge strengthening bilateral relations.
The new strategic roadmap signals a major expansion of India’s engagement with Europe at a time of shifting global supply chains, heightened geopolitical competition, and growing international demand for trusted technology and clean energy partnerships.
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