India To Work With Netherlands On Future-Ready Supply Chains, Sign Semiconductor Deal

India and the Netherlands are creating trusted, transparent, and future-ready supply chains to meet the growing global disruptions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, calling the current geopolitical situation a “decade of disasters” for the world.

At the Hague on Saturday (May 16, 2026), Modi pointed to a series of global crises, from the COVID-19 pandemic to wars and the emerging energy crisis, that have shaken economies worldwide.

“Today, humanity faces many major challenges as well. The world is dealing with new challenges. First came the Corona pandemic; then wars broke out, and now there is an energy crisis. This decade is turning into a decade of disasters for the world,” Modi said, addressing the Indian diaspora in the Netherlands.
 
He warned that unless these challenges are addressed quickly, decades of global development achievements could be reversed, pushing millions back into poverty.

Highlighting efforts to strengthen economic resilience, Modi said India and the Netherlands are jointly working on building robust and dependable supply chains amid global uncertainty.

He also said both countries can coordinate more closely on international projects and deepen cooperation in sectors including trade, technology, defence, and renewable energy.

Modi arrived in the Netherlands on Friday as part of a broader diplomatic outreach aimed at expanding India’s strategic partnerships in Europe and beyond.

The Prime Minister described modern India as both “technology-driven and humanity-driven,” saying the country is undergoing an unprecedented transformation.

“India in the 21st century is a land of opportunities. India is both technology-driven and humanity-driven. India is becoming as modern as it is ancient,” he said.

Modi told a cheering crowd that India’s ambitions were now bigger and faster than ever before. “Today India is saying we don’t just want transformation, we want the best, we want the fastest. That is why when there are unlimited aspirations in India, the efforts are also becoming limitless,” he said.

The Prime Minister pointed to India’s recent hosting of major international events, including the AI Summit and the G20 Summit, saying these reflected the country’s growing global stature.

“Today’s India is going through a phase of unprecedented transformation,” he said. “This has now become the character of today’s India.”
 
Modi also highlighted India’s startup ecosystem, noting that the country now has the world’s third-largest startup network. Recalling that India had only four unicorns in 2014, Modi said the country now has nearly 125 active unicorns working across sectors such as AI, defence, and space technology. “This culture of research and innovation is becoming even more expansive,” he added.

The Prime Minister said India’s aspirations are no longer confined within its borders and outlined the country’s larger global goals. “India wants to host the Olympics, become a global manufacturing hub, emerge as a leader in green energy, and become the growth engine of the world,” he said.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), meanwhile, said Modi and the Netherlands Prime Minister Rob Jetten adopted an ambitious roadmap for the newly announced strategic partnership, aimed at guiding cooperation across multiple sectors.

MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George said both sides acknowledged the growing convergence in bilateral ties and formally elevated the relationship to a strategic partnership.

“The two leaders acknowledged increasing convergence and formally elevated the bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership, which is very significant. They adopted an ambitious roadmap for strategic partnership, guiding cooperation across various sectors,” Sibi George said.

Highlighting key outcomes of the visit, he said the two leaders also attended the signing of a partnership agreement between Tata Electronics and ASML to support the semiconductor fabrication facility in Dholera.

He noted that it marked ASML’s first such partnership with India and would significantly contribute to strengthening India’s semiconductor ecosystem.

In a post on X, Modi said that India’s strides in the world of semiconductors offered immense opportunities for the youth of our nation. “This is a sector in which we will keep adding vigour in the times to come,” he added.

ASML is a Dutch multinational corporation and one of the leading suppliers of high-precision lithography equipment, a critical requirement in the manufacturing of semiconductor chips. Tata Electronics, a subsidiary of the Tata Group, is an Indian electronics and semiconductor manufacturing company that is establishing a semiconductor manufacturing facility in Gujarat.

In another significant step, the Leiden University Library in the Netherlands returned the 11th-century Chola Copper Plates to India. Modi and Jetten witnessed the restitution ceremony.

An official release said that Chola Copper Plates, a set of 21 large plates and 3 small plates, are royal charters issued by Chola Kings during the 11th century CE. The Plates contain texts written in Tamil and Sanskrit.

These charters formalise the gifting of Anaimangalam village to a Buddha vihara called Chulamanivarma-vihara in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu.
The restitution of these Chola copper plates assumes significance since they are not merely artefacts of the past, but an invaluable story of India’s heritage and civilization, the release said.

“A joyous moment for every Indian! Chola Copper Plates, dating back to the 11th century, will be repatriated to India from the Netherlands. Took part in the ceremony for the same in the presence of Prime Minister Rob Jetten,” he said on X.

“They relate to the great Rajendra Chola-I, formalising an oral commitment made by his father, King Rajaraja-I. They also showcase the greatness of the Cholas. We in India are immensely proud of the Cholas, their culture and their maritime prowess,” he added.

PM Modi thanked the Netherlands government and Leiden University in particular, where the Copper Plates were kept since the mid-19th century.