India a land of opportunities, appeal to Indian community for investment and cooperation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, terming 21st century India as a land of opportunities, has appealed to the Indian community based in the Netherlands to increase investment and cooperation in India. He expressed confidence that the global Indian community will play a significant role in the 'Viksit Bharat (Developed India)' journey.

On the second leg of his five-nation tour, Mr. Modi, who arrived here on Friday on a two-day visit, met with the Indian community on Saturday. Addressing the Indian diaspora, he termed them the real strength and a vibrant bridge between the two countries, and said the government has extended the eligibility for OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card for the Surinami Indian community from the fourth generation to the sixth generation.

Highlighting India's economic, technological, and democratic successes, Prime Minister Modi expressed his commitment to taking the relationship between the two countries to new heights with the Indian community based in the Netherlands. He said India is rapidly moving towards becoming a first-world economy with "infinite aspirations" and "tireless efforts". He further stated that Dutch leaders have always appreciated the Indian diaspora, and Indians living here play a crucial role in the Dutch economy and society.

Praising the cultural roots of the Indian diaspora, Mr. Modi said that despite changing generations and crossing national borders, Indians have kept their language, culture, festivals, and traditions alive. He said the Indian community is not just a story of migration but a living example of struggle, culture, and development.

Referring to India's development journey, he said India has become the world's third-largest startup ecosystem. He informed that in 2014, there were only four unicorns in India, whereas today the number has risen to around 125. Indian startups in areas like artificial intelligence, defense, space, and semiconductors are making their mark globally.

Prime Minister Modi said India has become the world's second-largest mobile phone manufacturing country, and work is underway on 12 semiconductor plants in the country. He claimed that production of "Designed in India" and "Made in India" chips has begun in India. Referring to the Digital India campaign, he said India has created the world's largest digital public infrastructure. He informed that over 20 billion UPI transactions take place in India every month, which is more than half of global digital transactions.

Discussing global challenges, Prime Minister Modi said that amidst pandemics, wars, and energy crises, the world is looking for a reliable supply chain. He said India and the Netherlands are working together to create a "reliable, transparent, and future-ready" supply chain. He termed green hydrogen, water security, and trade cooperation as the foundation of the relationship between the two countries.

Prime Minister Modi said the historic trade agreement between India and the European Union will further strengthen the India-Netherlands partnership and make the Netherlands a natural entry point for Indian businesses into Europe.

Talking about cooperation in the field of sports, Prime Minister Modi said Indian-origin players have strengthened the Netherlands cricket team, while the Indian hockey team has benefited from Dutch coaches. He hoped that whoever wins the Hockey World Cup, the friendship between India and the Netherlands will always be a winner.