New Delhi, February 19 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Dutch counterpart, Dick Schoof, on Thursday emphasized the need for India and the Netherlands to collaborate to fully realize the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for social transformation.
The two leaders met on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, which featured a high-level delegation from the Netherlands led by Schoof.
"Met Prime Minister Dick Schoof at the AI Impact Summit. The Netherlands has made significant progress in the digital and AI sectors, and our nations will work together in these areas. We discussed strengthening cooperation in semiconductors, large-scale water projects, green hydrogen, talent mobility, counterterrorism, and more," PM Modi posted on X after the meeting.
Prime Minister Modi thanked Prime Minister Schoof for attending the Summit and appreciated the contribution of the Netherlands, as the Co-Chair of the Working Group on AI for Economic Growth and Social Good. Schoof, on the other hand, emphasized the importance of the Summit and expressed confidence that the Summit Declaration would guide future policy discussions.
"Recognizing that the advent of AI marked a pivotal moment in technological evolution and held significant opportunities for society, the two leaders underscored the need for India and the Netherlands to work together to fully realize the potential of AI for social transformation. In this context, the leaders also discussed strengthening cooperation between the two countries in emerging technologies, including AI, quantum, and semiconductors," read a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
"Reviewing the bilateral relationship, both leaders welcomed the steady progress in the India-Netherlands partnership and reaffirmed their commitment to further deepening the partnership in diverse sectors of WAH (Water, Agriculture, Health), clean energy, green hydrogen, defense and security, education, and people-to-people ties. They agreed that the conclusion of the milestone India-EU Free Trade Agreement negotiations provided a historic opportunity to realize the full potential in trade and economic partnership between the two countries," it added.
Both leaders also exchanged views on important regional and international developments, and reaffirmed their commitment to working together on multilateral platforms to address global challenges. Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s position on the conflict in Ukraine, emphasizing the need for its earliest possible cessation. Both leaders committed to strengthening the global fight against terrorism.
India and the Netherlands enjoy a strong bilateral relationship based on shared democratic values and multifaceted cooperation in diverse areas. The two countries have a Strategic Partnership on Water, covering extensive cooperation and knowledge sharing in flood management, clean water technologies, among other domains.
"The India-Netherlands partnership has considerably deepened in the traditional sectors of trade and investment, WAH (Water, Agriculture, Health) sectors, people-to-people ties, and has recently expanded to strategic areas of technology, innovation, defense and security, renewable energy, education, and the maritime domain," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated.
Prime Minister Modi had last met Schoof on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg in November 2025, noting that the bilateral partnership between the two nations is growing rapidly in sectors like energy, technology, innovation, and water resources.
In December, both countries also held the 13th Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi, discussing ways to further strengthen the partnership in sectors such as critical technologies and innovation, including semiconductors and AI, science and technology, green hydrogen, and shipping, defense and security, as well as priority areas of Water, Agriculture, and Health (WAH agenda).
