PM Modi
Modi in The Hague: Indian diaspora is a ‘living bridge’ between India and Netherlands
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday described the Indian community in the Netherlands as a “living bridge of friendship” between the two countries, as he addressed members of the diaspora in The Hague.
During his address, Modi highlighted the growing strategic partnership between India and the Netherlands, underlining cooperation in trade, technology, innovation, education and cultural exchange.
Modi receives warm welcome
The Prime Minister was welcomed by members of the Indian diaspora and friends of India at a community reception in The Hague.
Addressing the gathering, Modi praised the contribution of the Indian-origin community to Dutch society and said their achievements had helped strengthen bilateral ties.
He also acknowledged the Surinami-Hindustani community, noting its deep historical and cultural links with India and its efforts to preserve Indian traditions across generations.
Indian talent driving new momentum
Modi said Indian professionals, entrepreneurs and students were playing a significant role in enhancing cooperation between the two countries.
He pointed to the growing presence of Indian talent in the Dutch technology sector and the increasing number of Indian students in universities across the Netherlands.
The Prime Minister also said sports such as cricket and hockey were helping deepen people-to-people connections.
Trade and tech at the core of partnership
The Prime Minister said India and the Netherlands were witnessing robust growth in trade and economic cooperation.
He noted that the Netherlands remains one of India’s major export destinations in Europe and an important source of investment.
Modi added that the proposed India-European Union Free Trade Agreement could create new opportunities for businesses and investors on both sides.
Modi highlights India’s development journey
Speaking about India’s transformation, Modi said the country was making rapid progress in infrastructure, manufacturing, clean energy and digital public systems.
He said these efforts were part of India’s vision to become a developed nation, or “Viksit Bharat”, by 2047.
According to Modi, India was shaping its future with confidence while contributing to global growth and prosperity.
Call to diaspora to support Viksit Bharat
The Prime Minister assured overseas Indians that the Government of India remained committed to their welfare.
He urged members of the diaspora to contribute to the Viksit Bharat mission by sharing the knowledge, skills and experience they have gained abroad.
OCI eligibility expansion
During the event, Modi highlighted the government’s decision to expand Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) eligibility for the Surinami-Hindustani community from the fourth generation to the sixth generation.
The Netherlands is home to the largest Indian-origin community in mainland Europe, including nearly 200,000 members of the Surinami-Hindustani community.
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