Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a cultural welcome from the Indian diaspora in The Hague, Netherlands, this week [1].
The visit underscores India's effort to strengthen bilateral ties with European partners while positioning the nation as a global leader in technology and sustainability.
Modi arrived in the Netherlands after concluding a visit to the United Arab Emirates [3]. Following his landing in Amsterdam, he traveled to The Hague [2]. This visit represents the second leg of a five-nation tour [2].
During the event, the Prime Minister was greeted with Garba beats, tricolours, and chants [2]. In his address to the gathering, Modi said India has ambitions to host the Olympics [1]. He also discussed India's goal to become a hub for green-energy manufacturing and sought cooperation on semiconductors [1].
Modi said the Indian economy is growing, noting that India is the third-largest startup ecosystem [4]. The discussions in The Hague focused on how the two nations can collaborate on high-tech manufacturing, and sustainable energy initiatives to bolster economic growth [1].
The engagement with the diaspora serves as a bridge to facilitate these diplomatic and economic goals, blending cultural diplomacy with strategic industrial interests [2].
“India is the third-largest startup ecosystem”
This diplomatic push reflects India's strategic shift toward diversifying its technology partnerships. By targeting semiconductor cooperation and green-energy manufacturing in the Netherlands, India aims to reduce reliance on a few specific markets and integrate itself more deeply into the European high-tech supply chain.
