India, the Netherlands elevate ties to strategic partnership; unveil five-year roadmap across semiconductors, green energy

India and the Netherlands have elevated their bilateral ties to a strategic partnership and adopted a five-year roadmap aimed at expanding co-operation across sectors including semiconductors, renewable energy, critical minerals, maritime connectivity, healthcare, and defence.

The roadmap, adopted during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten at The Hague, lays out time-bound initiatives and joint action plans for the 2026-2030 period.

"Today, we are taking that relationship between India and the Netherlands a step further with the announcement of our strategic partnership, a great milestone building on the trade agreement between the European Union and India. It will enable our countries to work together even more closely across a wide range of areas. Together we can drive ambitious innovation to strengthen both our countries," PM Modi said.

The two sides agreed to strengthen economic and investment ties through annual meetings of the Joint Trade and Investment Committee (JTIC), with focus sectors including renewable energy, telecommunications, infrastructure, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, medical technology and agriculture.

The roadmap also proposes closer collaboration in critical minerals and resilient supply chains, amid growing global efforts to diversify sourcing networks. Both countries agreed to facilitate partnerships across the critical raw materials value chain covering exploration, research, innovation and recycling.

India and the Netherlands will also promote two-way investments through business-to-business matchmaking, joint ventures and public-private partnerships, while encouraging cooperation between industry and academic institutions.

Semiconductor, technology focus

A key pillar of the partnership is cooperation in semiconductors and emerging technologies. The two countries agreed to explore trusted semiconductor supply chains and expand collaboration in artificial intelligence, photonics, quantum technologies and cybersecurity.

The roadmap also backs institutional collaboration between Dutch universities and Indian institutes including Indian Institute of Science, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, supported by companies such as ASML, NXP Semiconductors and Tata Electronics.

Both sides also committed to increasing collaboration in digital health, cybersecurity and disease surveillance, including through co-operation between the Indian Council of Medical Research and the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment.

Green corridor, maritime co-operation

The roadmap places significant emphasis on clean energy and maritime sustainability. India and the Netherlands agreed to establish a Joint Working Group on Renewable Energy and work towards a green hydrogen corridor connecting Indian production capacities with European markets.

The two countries will also develop a “Green and Digital Sea Corridor” aimed at creating an environmentally sustainable and digitally integrated maritime route between India and the Netherlands.

In the defence sector, both nations agreed to deepen naval cooperation, explore defence technology partnerships and work towards a defence industrial roadmap involving industry bodies from both countries.

The agreement also covers co-operation in water management, climate-resilient agriculture, urban development, migration and mobility, counterterrorism, cybersecurity and cultural exchanges.