Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Dutch companies to design, innovate, and manufacture in India during a visit to The Hague [1].
This push for foreign investment seeks to transform India into a global manufacturing hub by utilizing cost-effective production and recent regulatory reforms. By attracting Dutch expertise, India aims to strengthen its industrial base and increase high-tech exports.
Modi said that India offers immense opportunities [1]. He said that the government is providing incentives across several sectors to elevate production to the next level [2]. These measures are intended to make the Indian market more attractive to European firms seeking stable growth and scalable manufacturing operations.
To attract private investment, the Indian government has expanded access to critical industries. Modi said that the country has opened up space, mining, and nuclear energy for the private sector to provide policy predictability and increase opportunities [3]. This shift allows foreign firms to enter sectors that were previously heavily restricted or reserved for state entities.
The invitation occurred on May 16, 2024 [1]. The Prime Minister said that the combination of incentives and reforms creates a fertile environment for Dutch innovation. By integrating Dutch design capabilities with Indian manufacturing scale, the administration hopes to foster a more resilient supply chain — one that reduces dependence on a few specific global regions.
Modi said that India's current economic trajectory provides a strategic advantage. He said that the reforms are designed to ensure that the private sector can operate with clarity and confidence. The outreach in The Hague serves as a targeted effort to bring specialized European technology into the Indian ecosystem [2].
“India offers immense opportunities.”
India is aggressively diversifying its foreign direct investment sources by targeting high-tech European markets. By opening restricted sectors like nuclear energy and space to private players, New Delhi is signaling a shift toward a more liberalized economy to compete with other regional manufacturing hubs.
