Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on a visit to the Netherlands, addressed members of the Indian community in The Hague after receiving a traditional and enthusiastic welcome.
In his remarks, Modi said India–Netherlands ties are steadily strengthening and praised overseas Indians for staying connected to their cultural roots. He conveyed greetings to the people of the Netherlands on behalf of 1.4 billion Indians, adding that the atmosphere felt like a festival.
Highlighting what he called an era of growth and achievements, the Prime Minister said India has reached a level “no one has gone before.” He pointed to India’s successful hosting of major international gatherings in recent years, including a global AI-related summit and the G20 summit.
Modi also referred to India’s achievements in space exploration, and spoke about the country’s rapid digitalisation. He said more than half of the world’s digital payment transactions take place in India, while the number of startups has risen sharply.
Marking May 16 as a significant date, Modi recalled that the 2014 Lok Sabha election results were declared on the same day, leading to the formation of a full-majority government after many years. He said Indians are dreaming big, with youth-driven ambitions, and noted ongoing work in areas such as nuclear energy and semiconductor manufacturing.
Separately, the Netherlands handed over Chola-era copper plates dating back to the 11th century to India, according to the report.
