The Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, H.E. Kumar Tuhin, recently spoke with Diplomat Magazine about the latest developments in India–Netherlands relations. In the conversation, he reflected on the growing political and economic partnership between both countries, India’s engagement with international legal institutions in The Hague, and ongoing collaborations in water management, sustainable agriculture, and innovation. Ambassador Tuhin also shared his vision for cultural diplomacy, the role of the Indian diaspora, and the opportunities that lie ahead for deepening cooperation in areas such as technology, security, and green energy.
Since presenting your credentials in November 2024, how do you view the current state of India–Netherlands political and economic relations, and where are the main opportunities for growth?
India and the Netherlands share a longstanding partnership that has evolved into a trusted and valued friendship, grounded in shared democratic values and mutual respect. Bilateral cooperation spans political, economic, and technological domains, with regular high-level exchanges reinforcing our ties. Recent interactions include External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar’s visit to the Netherlands in May 2025, where discussions with Prime Minister Dick Schoof and Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp focused on enhancing collaboration in trade, technology, and security. Foreign Minister Veldkamp visited India earlier in April 2025, when he held detailed discussions with his counterpart Dr. S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Water, agriculture, and health remain cornerstones of our cooperation, while we are increasingly exploring strategic areas such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and green hydrogen.
Economically, the Netherlands is India’s 11th largest merchandise trading partner globally and the largest in the European Union. In FY 2023-24, bilateral merchandise trade reached USD 27.33 billion, accounting for 2.45% of India’s total merchandise trade. The Netherlands is India’s largest merchandise export destination in Europe and third largest globally, with exports including key items like petroleum products, telecom instruments, and pharmaceuticals. Investments are robust, with cumulative FDI from the Netherlands to India totaling over USD 52 billion and from India to the Netherlands being about USD 25 billion between April 2000 to September 2024. Over 300 Dutch companies operate in India, including Philips, NXP, Signify, Akzo Nobel, DSM, KLM, Rabobank, Heineken, TomTom, Paques, Boskalis, Van Oord, Damen Shipyards, Vopak, and Aegon. Conversely, more than 300 Indian companies are present in the Netherlands, such as TCS, HCL, Wipro, Infosys, Tech Mahindra, Tata Steel, Sun Pharmaceuticals, and Apollo Tyres.
The greatest opportunities lie in infusing a strategic dimension into our technology partnership, leveraging the Netherlands’ expertise in innovation. We are prioritizing new and emerging technologies, including semiconductors, clean energy solutions like green hydrogen, and digital domains. Our economic partnership continues to expand, offering immense potential to strengthen ties through enhanced investments, joint ventures, and sustainable development initiatives.
How is India engaging with The Hague’s key international legal institutions, and what are your priorities as India’s representative to them?
India has consistently played a constructive role in global affairs through active participation in multilateral institutions, and The Hague’s status as host to the OPCW, ICJ, PCA and many other institutions underscores its importance for international diplomacy.
As an original signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention, India attaches great importance to its full, effective, and non-discriminatory implementation. While the destruction of declared chemical weapon stockpiles marks a significant OPCW achievement, India emphasizes vigilance to prevent re-emergence and advocates for universal adherence, urging non-party states to join at the earliest. We engage actively in OPCW meetings.
Regarding the ICJ and PCA, India participates regularly at appropriate levels, contributing to discussions on international law and dispute resolution. India has been involved in several ICJ cases, and supports the court’s role in upholding international justice. For the PCA, India utilizes its arbitration mechanisms for resolving disputes in accordance with international law and promotes peaceful settlement of conflicts.
As India’s representative, my priorities include advancing India’s commitment to multilateralism, ensuring our representation in these institutions, and fostering dialogue on global challenges like disarmament, climate justice, etc. We aim to collaborate with the Netherlands to enhance these platforms’ effectiveness. Strengthening these engagements aligns with India’s broader aspirations to uphold equity, justice, peace, and a rules-based international order.
What concrete projects are underway between India and the Netherlands in water management, agriculture, and innovation?
The Netherlands’ global leadership in water technologies, innovation and sustainable agriculture aligns well with India’s priorities, leading to robust collaborations under our Strategic Partnership on Water, launched in 2021. In water management, we are working together on the National Mission on Clean Ganga Programme for river rejuvenation, pollution abatement, and conservation, drawing on Dutch expertise. We are also partnering in initiatives in Tamil Nadu, particularly Chennai, focused on urban resilience against droughts, floods, and water quality issues. For flood management, we are adapting the Dutch “Room for the River” model in Kerala, following the 2018 floods, with ongoing risk reduction programs that could extend to other states. The Joint Working Group on Water, elevated to ministerial level, held its first meeting in April 2023 and continues to drive these efforts.
In sustainable agriculture, we are establishing a number of Centres of Excellence across India with Dutch partnership, of which 7 are already functional, focusing on advanced farming techniques, agri-innovation and food processing. Many Dutch seed companies are present in India. In health and innovation, under the MoU on Healthcare, we are progressing on digital health cooperation, including interoperability, AI applications, disease surveillance, and antimicrobial resistance surveillance. Planned efforts include expanding our cooperation in health and pharmaceuticals with joint research and policy dialogues, and initiatives on cooperation between Ports, green hydrogen, etc.
Drawing on your ICCR experience, what cultural diplomacy initiatives are you planning to strengthen people-to-people ties here?
Cultural diplomacy is vital for enhancing India’s connection with our global partners, and the Indian diaspora plays a pivotal role in bringing our nations closer by preserving and promoting India’s rich heritage through music, dance, Indian cinema, Ayurveda, and Yoga. The diaspora in the Netherlands, well-integrated locally yet connected to their roots, serves as advocates for India’s interests and cultural projection.
Leveraging my experience as DG ICCR, I plan to bolster initiatives such as exchange programs, scholarships, youth exchanges, the Distinguished and Academic Visitors Programme, visits of artists in performing and visual arts, India studies in academic institutions, cultural festivals, etc. Our Gandhi Culture Centre at Parkstraat in The Hague, operational since 2011, offers free classes in Yoga, Indian dance, Hindi and Sanskrit, hosts regular programs to foster people-to-people connections, and serves as a thriving hub for Indian culture. We will expand collaborations like the International Day of Yoga events, explore residency programmes to deepen artistic exchanges, and forge collaborations between cultural institutions of both countries. These efforts aim to celebrate our shared 400-year cultural history and build enduring ties.
Looking ahead, what are your main objectives as Ambassador, and what message would you like to share with the diaspora and Dutch public about the future of India–Netherlands relations?
As earlier mentioned, the Netherlands is a trusted and valued partner of India. The leaders on both sides are extremely clear about the need to further strengthen our relations. I am very happy to be representing my country at this stage of ties, when the cooperation prospects appear especially bright and exciting. My main objectives include advancing bilateral relations across all sectors, as well as to strengthen cooperation in multilateral fora. We will work to strengthen ties in traditional areas like water, agriculture, and health, while expanding into strategic domains such as defence, security, semiconductors, AI and green hydrogen and explore emerging synergies. Enhancing people-to-people ties through cultural and diaspora initiatives is also key.
To the Indian diaspora—the largest expatriate community in mainland Europe—and the Dutch public, I convey that India-Netherlands relations are built on a strong foundation of trust, mutual respect, and shared values for global peace and prosperity. The diaspora’s contributions to Dutch society are invaluable, and together, we can unlock new opportunities in technology, sustainability, and innovation. We are all the inheritors of a proud history, and should continuously strive to make ourselves worthy of that heritage, through our work, our conduct, our kindness, our politeness and our concern for the fellow human being, wherever we are, whatever we do. The future is bright, promising deeper partnerships for mutual benefit.
