Exclusive | Dutch Foreign Minister Berendsen: Netherlands’ Rotterdam To Drive India-EU Trade Surge

Last Updated:May 17, 2026, 13:27 IST

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As PM Narendra Modi wraps up his meetings with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, the real business is now playing out behind closed doors with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten. Trade deals, tech partnerships, and clean energy are firmly on the table as both sides look to turn momentum into something more concrete.

What’s striking is the shift in tone from The Hague. In an exclusive interview with CNN-News18, Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen makes it clear where the Netherlands sees the future: less about distant markets, more about dependable partners. India is no longer just a large market, but a partner in sectors that now matter most, from supply chains and semiconductors to clean energy. The message is measured but clear: this relationship is being taken far more seriously than before.

Edited excerpts:

India and the EU signed the India-EU Free Trade Agreement this year. What is the one tangible gain the Netherlands expects in the next year?

The quickest win is in trade logistics. The Port of Rotterdam is set to emerge as a key gateway for rising India–EU trade, especially with the new Green and Digital Trade Corridor linking it directly to Indian ports like Kandla. This will drive flows in green hydrogen, ammonia, and container cargo.

Bilateral trade already exceeds $20 billion annually. The FTA does not create that momentum, it turbocharges it. And Dutch logistics is well placed to capture a significant share of that growth.

Beyond ports, the Netherlands also stands to gain from India’s rising demand for high-tech expertise, particularly in semiconductors and renewable energy, where Dutch companies have established strengths. The FTA offers a more stable, predictable framework to scale that cooperation further.

The Iran conflict and Hormuz disruptions have hit global trade and energy flows. Does this crisis force Europe, especially the Netherlands, to reduce its exposure to volatile regions and deepen economic dependence on partners like India?

The crisis has made one thing clear: concentrated energy dependencies come with real risk. Europe’s biggest vulnerability has been LNG, with Hormuz disruptions forcing it to compete with Asian buyers for spot cargoes.

For the Netherlands, this only strengthens the push towards renewables and more diversified supply chains. The Green and Digital Trade Corridor with India, focused on green hydrogen and related carriers, is a clear example of that shift. The FTA now gives it real commercial scale.

With rising concerns over economic security in Europe, how open is the Netherlands to deeper tech collaboration with India, especially in semiconductors and critical infrastructure?

The Netherlands sees India as a key partner in technology, especially in semiconductors. A dedicated MoU on semiconductors and emerging technologies is already in place, covering investment, research, and talent exchange under the broader strategic partnership.

India offers scale, a business-friendly environment, and a deep talent pool, all of which are attractive for Dutch firms. At the same time, economic security will remain a key consideration in any collaboration.

At the European level, the Chips Act is driving efforts to strengthen domestic capabilities and reduce strategic dependencies. In that context, partnerships with trusted players like India are becoming more important.

The Netherlands plays a strategic role in this ecosystem through companies like ASML, a global leader in chip-making equipment. That positions it well to deepen cooperation with India across semiconductors, digital innovation, critical infrastructure, and high-tech R&D.

This is not just economic; it is strategic, aimed at building resilient, future-ready technology ecosystems for both sides."

The Netherlands is a major entry point into Europe. Do you see India emerging as a serious manufacturing and supply-chain partner for Dutch companies?

Yes, and the data already backs that up. The Netherlands is India’s third-largest export destination, with Dutch investments in India at around $53 billion. India, in turn, is the fourth-largest investor in the Netherlands, with over $5 billion.

This is a deeply embedded relationship. More than 350 Dutch companies operate in India, employing around 40,000 people, while over 300 Indian firms have a presence in the Netherlands.

What’s changing now is scale and ambition. India’s expanding manufacturing base, young workforce, and improving logistics make it a natural partner for the Netherlands as Europe’s gateway.

The collaboration is also widening across sectors, from semiconductors and high-tech to agriculture, shipbuilding, water management, and clean energy, including green hydrogen. The focus is clear: build more resilient, diversified supply chains while co-developing solutions to shared challenges."

On China, Europe’s stance has hardened in recent years. How does the Netherlands balance its economic ties with Beijing while expanding strategic cooperation with India?

The Netherlands maintains significant economic ties with China and wants a stable, constructive relationship going forward. China remains an important partner, including on global challenges like the energy transition.

At the same time, there is a sharper focus on reducing strategic dependencies and protecting economic security. In that context, India is emerging as a key diversification partner for both the Netherlands and Europe, particularly in logistics, technology, and renewable energy.

The approach is pragmatic: continue engaging with China, while deepening cooperation with partners like India to build resilience and reduce risk.

The Netherlands leads in water management and climate tech. Are we looking at large-scale investments in India, or will cooperation remain limited to pilot projects?

Our partnership with India on water has always been guided by a long-term strategic vision. This approach has been the foundation of our broader Strategic Partnership. For our bilateral cooperation in water, climate and energy, pilot and technology demonstration projects are invaluable in developing the right frameworks, building trusted partnerships, ensuring that solutions are adapted to local needs and identifying scalable models.

The Netherlands also shares its technical expertise to enrich Indian government planning, for example on urban water and river management, as well as coastal protection, in West Bengal, Kerala and the cities of Prayagraj and Chennai, amongst others.

It’s important to emphasize that this is not a one-directional relationship. India brings extraordinary knowledge to this partnership through its indigenous and traditional knowledge related to water management and climate resilience, which the Netherlands also benefits from.

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