Open House at the Indian Ambassador’s residence.
The Hague – India celebrates its 71st Independence Day on August 15, 2017. For the first time, the Indian Embassy will mark this important event by organizing a special flag hoisting event at ‘India House’, the residence of the Ambassador in Wassenar. The function will be open to all members of Indian community, people of Indian origin and friends of India. This measure is being taken in order to strengthen the friendly relationship between the Embassy and the Dutch/Indian community.
The address of the venue is Backershagenlaan 21, 2243 AB Wassenaar. The function will be from 10:00 to 11:30 hrs. on Tuesday 15 August 2017. Anyone interested in attending the celebration can register themselves using: http://www.indiainnl.nl/ and attend the event.
The event will start with hoisting of the Indian flag by the Ambassador, H.E. Venu Rajamony, singing of the Indian national anthem and reading of the address to the nation by Indian President Ram Nath Kovind. The celebration will conclude with a small cultural program and refreshments.
Diplomatic Relations between India and the Netherlands
The Netherlands is one of first three countries that established diplomatic relations with independent India in 1947 itself. This year, the two countries celebrate 70-years diplomatic relations. At the end of June, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Netherlands for the first time as Prime Minister. During his visit he met with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima. He also met with Prime Minister Mark Rutte to strengthen diplomatic and economic relations.
In terms of trade and investment, both countries have strong economic interests in each other. Netherlands, in the financial year 2015-16, was the fourth largest investor of FDI into India. Two-way trade between India and the Netherlands stood at US$ 4.81 billion in 2016. Presently, there are 180 Indian companies based in the Netherlands and over 200 Dutch companies in India.
H.E. Ambassador Venu Rajamony declared: “This year’s Independence Day celebrations are truly special because it coincides with India completing 70 years of independence as well as 70 years of diplomatic relations between our two countries.
The Ambassador of the Netherlands was one of the three Ambassadors present in India at the time of our first Independence Day in 1947. There is at present a great momentum in bilateral relations following the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Netherlands on June 27, 2017.
We have great hopes of taking our relations to new heights. I hope, this Independence Day will be the beginning of fresh efforts from the Governments and people of both our countries in this direction.”
