Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten on Saturday, 17 May agreed to elevate the India-Netherlands bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership, adopting a five-year Roadmap (2026–2030) built around focused, time-bound initiatives and joint plans of action. The agreement was formalised during their meeting at The Hague, underscoring the growing depth of ties between the two nations.

OCI Eligibility Extended for Surinamese-Hindustani Community

A headline outcome of the bilateral talks was the liberalisation of Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card eligibility for the Surinamese-Hindustani diaspora, extended from the fourth generation to the sixth generation. The Netherlands is home to the largest concentration of people of Indian origin in mainland Europe, including approximately 2,00,000 members of the Surinamese-Hindustani community.

Posting on social media platform X, Prime Minister Modi said: 'The Indian diaspora is a living bridge of the India-Netherlands partnership. Our decision to extend OCI Card eligibility for the Surinamese Hindustani community from the fourth generation to the sixth generation has been enthusiastically received by the diaspora in the Netherlands!'

Modi Addresses Indian Community in The Hague

Before his bilateral with Jetten, Prime Minister Modi attended an Indian community reception in The Hague on Saturday morning, where he was accorded a warm welcome by a large gathering of the Indian diaspora and friends of India in the Netherlands. Addressing those present, he praised the community for its contributions to Dutch society and for serving as a living bridge of friendship between the two countries.

He also recalled the deep historical ties of the Surinamese-Hindustani community with India, commending their sustained efforts to preserve and celebrate their cultural heritage across generations. Notably, this community's roots trace back to indentured labourers taken from India to Suriname under Dutch colonial rule — making their continued connection to India a historically layered one.

Technology, Trade, and the India-EU FTA

Prime Minister Modi highlighted that Indian professionals in the technology sector and the growing number of Indian students in Dutch universities — particularly in innovation-driven fields — were reinforcing the contemporary partnership. He underscored the robust trade relationship, noting that the Netherlands ranks among India's largest export destinations in Europe and is one of its foremost investment partners.

He added that the proposed India-EU Free Trade Agreement would further unlock opportunities for both sides. Sports linkages — particularly Cricket and Hockey — were also cited as contributors to the vibrancy of people-to-people ties.

Viksit Bharat and the Diaspora's Role

Prime Minister Modi highlighted India's ongoing transformation across infrastructure, manufacturing, clean energy, and digital systems, framing it within the country's goal of becoming a developed nation — Viksit Bharat by 2047. He called upon the Indian community in the Netherlands to actively contribute to this journey by leveraging their experience and expertise abroad. He assured them that the Indian government remained firmly committed to the welfare of every Indian living overseas.

With the five-year Strategic Partnership Roadmap now in place, both nations are expected to pursue structured engagement across technology, innovation, trade, and people-to-people connectivity through 2030.