Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, 16 May met a delegation of leading Dutch CEOs in New Delhi, with top business executives spanning aviation, semiconductors, shipping, agriculture, and technology voicing strong confidence in India's economic trajectory and its expanding global partnerships under his leadership.

CEOs on India's transformation

Sander van 't Noordende, CEO of Randstad, said India had undergone a remarkable shift over the past decade. 'The last 10 years have seen a notable acceleration in everything — infrastructure, technology, consumer goods, as well as the labour market and employment. So, I think India is absolutely on the right track, and obviously that is under Prime Minister Modi's leadership,' he said after the interaction.

Fabricio Bloisi, CEO of technology investor Prosus, said discussions are underway to significantly expand the company's investments in India. He described artificial intelligence as a major opportunity for collaboration between India and the Netherlands, adding that Prosus strongly believes in India's growth story.

Aviation and maritime sectors in focus

Marjan Rintel, President and CEO of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, highlighted the carrier's 70-year presence in India and its recent addition of Hyderabad as its fourth Indian destination. 'We have been connected for a long time, and business and innovation in India are also very important,' she said.

The maritime sector featured prominently in discussions. Derk Te Bokkel, CEO of Royal IHC B.V., noted that Prime Minister Modi has deep knowledge of the shipping industry from his earlier tenure in Gujarat, and said the company supports Indian shipyards in building large dredging vessels while operating a workshop in Mumbai that exports advanced equipment globally.

Keith Svendsen, CEO of APM Terminals, recalled the Prime Minister's detailed understanding of port and transport infrastructure from earlier interactions at the Vibrant Gujarat Forum, saying Modi grasped the centrality of ports in driving economic growth. Arnout Damen of Damen Shipyards expressed hope that the company could combine its shipbuilding expertise with India's growth ambitions.

Semiconductors and technology investment

Maurice Geraets of NXP Semiconductors said the company has been operating in India since 1969 and currently employs around 4,000 people in the country. He identified major growth opportunities ahead and described Modi's commitment to the semiconductor sector as highly encouraging. This comes amid India's push to establish itself as a global chip manufacturing hub.

Agriculture and food security

Martin Eggink of Rijk Zwaan stressed the importance of international cooperation in ensuring global food security, saying no country can sustain a food system entirely on its own. He backed Modi's emphasis on cross-border collaboration in the sector.

Hans Huistra, CEO of Royal HZPC, said the company has been active in India since 2014 and praised the government's focus on agricultural development, noting that its products are contributing to the growth of India's farm sector.

Broader India-Netherlands ties

Boudewijn Siemons said stronger ties between outward-looking economies like India and the Netherlands are essential in an increasingly volatile global environment. The meeting underscored the deepening bilateral relationship across critical sectors, with multiple CEOs signalling plans to deepen operational footprints in India in the near term.