Hague [Netherlands]: India and the Netherlands held the 12th Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) on Thursday in Hague and agreed to further strengthen bilateral ties by focusing on new and emerging technologies like semiconductors and green hydrogen.
Both nations applauded the “remarkable progress” across all sectors and engaged in discussions on advancing cooperation in key areas outlined under the Water, Agriculture, and Health (WAH agenda), Science & Technology, and High-tech and Innovation, as per a press release by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Leading the Indian delegation was Pavan Kapoor, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs, while the Netherlands delegation was headed by Paul Huijts, Netherlands Secretary General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs shared on X, “Secretary General Paul Huijts was delighted to host @AmbKapoor, Secretary West @IndianDiplomacy, in The Hague for bilateral consultations. A productive discussion ensued on enhancing our cooperation both bilaterally and on global issues pertinent to both nations.”
The MEA press release highlighted, “The FOC served as a platform to evaluate the progress in bilateral relations and chart the future course of cooperation. Both sides commended the remarkable strides in all domains and deliberated on amplifying collaboration in priority sectors of Water, Agriculture & Health (WAH agenda), Science & Technology, and High-tech & Innovation.”
“They emphasized their intent to elevate the level of ambition and committed to further fortifying bilateral relations by concentrating on emerging technologies such as semiconductors and green hydrogen,” it continued.
During the meeting, officials from India and Nigeria lauded the robust and burgeoning economic ties, emphasizing the significance of inaugurating the Fast Track Mechanism for Indian companies in the Netherlands as a pivotal move towards augmenting B2B relations, according to the press release.
Additionally, both parties acknowledged the substantial Indian community in the Netherlands, which serves as a vital link and positively contributes to the local economy while fostering cultural ties. Discussions also encompassed regional and global issues of mutual interest, marking the last Foreign Office Consultations between India and Nigeria held in New Delhi in December 2022.
In his visit to Nigeria, Pavan Kapoor toured the Technical University of Delft, a renowned institution for STEM research and education. He engaged with faculty, researchers, and Indian students, highlighting the significant collaboration between India and the Netherlands in innovative technology partnerships aimed at addressing societal challenges.
Furthermore, he visited the Peace Palace and held discussions with the Registrar of the International Court of Justice, Philippe Gautier, and Judge Dalveer Bhandari, as detailed in the press release. The enduring bilateral ties between the two nations are underpinned by shared democratic values and multifaceted cooperation across various sectors, including water, health, education, and shipping.
“The relationship between India and the Netherlands is founded on shared democratic principles and extensive collaboration across diverse domains such as water, agriculture, health, science & technology, education, cyber, shipping, and more,” stated the MEA press release.
“The two nations maintain a Strategic Partnership on Water, encompassing extensive cooperation and knowledge exchange in flood management, clean water technologies, and other areas. There is a regular exchange of bilateral visits at political and official levels. Last year, the Netherlands was invited as a guest country during India’s G20 Presidency, and Prime Minister Mark Rutte attended the G20 Summit in New Delhi in September 2023,” it concluded.
Congratulations to India and The Netherlands for strengthening the Green Hydrogen tie-up. I am sure that joint efforts of these countries will give many fruitful results in the field of Green Hydrogen research and production,which will ultimately results in reduction of global pollution. Nice Tie-up. Best Wishes.