New Delhi: India and the Netherlands held the 13th round of foreign office consultations (FOC) in New Delhi on Thursday, reviewing the full spectrum of bilateral ties and identifying fresh areas for cooperation.
The Indian delegation was led by Sibi George, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), while the Dutch side was headed by Christiaan Rebergen, Secretary General in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.
Both sides welcomed the increasing exchanges at the highest political levels, noting that recent interactions — including the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Dutch counterpart Dick Schoof on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg on November 23 — had provided renewed momentum to the partnership.
During the consultations, officials assessed progress across existing sectors of cooperation and explored new avenues including critical technologies, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, science and technology, green hydrogen, shipping, defence, and security. The discussions placed particular emphasis on the water, agriculture and health (WAH) agenda, a long-standing priority in bilateral ties.
Acknowledging the Netherlands’ position as a major economic partner for India within Europe, both sides highlighted steady growth in trade and investment flows. They stressed the importance of concluding the India-EU Free Trade Agreement by the end of the year, in line with directions issued during the visit of the EU College of Commissioners in February. The two delegations also exchanged views on regional and global developments, with India reiterating its zero-tolerance approach to terrorism.
People Connect
The consultations further underscored the importance of people-to-people and cultural linkages, with both sides appreciating the role of the Indian community in the Netherlands as a vibrant contributor to its economy and a bridge fostering deeper social and cultural connection.
The FOC, described as a key institutional mechanism between the two countries, will continue to be held regularly. Both sides agreed to schedule the next round at a mutually convenient date in the Netherlands.
India and the Netherlands enjoy a broad-based partnership rooted in shared democratic values and collaboration across diverse sectors. Among the flagship initiatives is the Strategic Partnership on Water, which enables cooperation in flood management, clean water technologies, and capacity building.