Indian President hails diaspora efforts in the Netherlands

The Indian community is an important pillar in India-Netherlands growing bilateral relations and serves as a bridge between the two countries and between India and Europe, Indian President Ram Nath Kovind said.

While addressing the members of the Indian community and 'Friends of India' at the Indian community reception in Amsterdam on April 6, President said, "The Indian community is the most important pillar of growing India-Netherlands bilateral relations and serves as a bridge between not just India and Netherlands, but between India and Europe also." The reception was organised by the Ambassador of India to the Netherlands, Reenat Sandhu.

On the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations, President Kovind said, "My state visit to the Netherlands marks an important milestone as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between India and the Netherlands this year."

President Kovind also stated that the Indian community in the Netherlands is the largest Indian origin diaspora in mainland Europe with over 200,000 members of the Hindustani-Surinami community. And over 60,000 Indian students and professionals are residing in the Netherlands, he added.

He said that the bilateral trade and investments between the two countries have grown remarkably over the past seven and a half decades. He also noted that Netherland became the third-largest investor in India.

"The President said that we count on the Netherlands as a key partner in our national flagship programmes - Make in India, Skill India, Clean India and Digital India. We are keen to leverage Dutch technology, know-how, and investment for growth and development in India. The Indian community can play an important part in achieving these objectives," Rashtrapati Bhawan reads.

(ANI)