State Banquet hosted by King of Netherlands in honour of President Kovind at Royal Palace

On Tuesday President Ram Nath Kovind and First Lady Savita Kovind were accorded a ceremonial welcome by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands. And then President Kovind laid a wreath at Dam Square, Amsterdam.

King Willem Alexander hosted a State Banquet in Honour of President Ram Nath Kovind and the First Lady Savita Kovind at Royal Palace Amsterdam.

President Kovind thanked the Netherlands King and, “I would like to thank His Majesty for the cordial welcome and warm hospitality. I am deeply touched by the kind reception accorded to me and to my delegation.”

“This year marks a milestone in our bilateral journey as we are jointly celebrating the 75th anniversary of our diplomatic relations that reflects the depth of India-Netherlands partnership,” he added

President Kovind said that this year, India is also celebrating 75 years of its independence. And reminded how the Netherlands was among the first nations to recognize independent India.

“After seven decades, it remains one of the foremost reliable partners of India,” said the President.

President Kovind said that the Netherlands is an important player in the Indo-Pacific and EU.

“As key advocates for a free and open Indo-Pacific, we share a common commitment to work for global peace, security and prosperity. The Netherlands can also play a pivotal role in strengthening India-EU ties in areas of connectivity, energy transition and trade & investment,” President said.

President reminded how the history of India-Netherlands relations dates back more than four centuries and that the paintings of Rembrandt show creative influence of Indian miniature art, Marius Bauer captured impressions of India in his paintings.

President also talked about the Professor Hendrik Kern, one of the leading Indologists in Netherlands taught Sanskrit to Dutch students in mid-nineteenth century.

“Rabindranath Tagore, Swami Vivekananda and Jiddu Krishnamurti were hosted by the Dutch with great enthusiasm and have inspired many,” he added.

“In recent years, we have witnessed a strong momentum in our bilateral relations. We were honoured to receive Your Majesties in India in 2019. I recall our discussions covering diverse areas of cooperation,” President Kovind said.

He talked about the visits of Netherlands Prime Minister Rutte to India in 2015 and 2018, and Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the Netherlands in 2017 during the 70th anniversary of our diplomatic ties. “Last year, our Prime Ministers held a Virtual Summit and launched the Strategic Partnership on Water, a sector which can benefit immensely from Dutch expertise. I appreciate our ongoing collaboration for rejuvenating the River Ganga, as well as in flood management and water treatment technologies, which are a big priority for India,” said President Kovind.

He talked about how the bilateral cooperation is extensive and diverse, covering trade and investment; science and technology; water, agriculture and health; renewable energy and space, among others.

President said, “Robust trade and investments form the bedrock of our bilateral relations. Dutch companies have long been a household name in India. With an investment of US$ 38 billion, the Netherlands has consistently been among the largest investors in India.”

He said that the significant investments are also flowing from India to the Netherlands.

“India offers new opportunities for Dutch companies, Small and Medium enterprises and start-ups to ‘Make in India for the World’. Our flagship programs like Digital India, Start-up India, and smart cities development, coupled with wide-ranging reforms offer an attractive environment. Dutch expertise in various sectors is a natural fit for India’s growth and development,” said President.

He said that the Netherlands is the home to the largest Indian diaspora in mainland Europe.

“They form a living bridge between our countries and include the Surinami-Hindustani community that represents a unique synthesis of Indian traditions and Dutch values. It includes professionals as well as Indian students who are making a positive contribution to the Dutch economy and society,” said President.

Lastly he said that he is confident that the strong bonds of friendship and multifaceted partnership will continue to flourish between India and Netherlands.

“I thank the Dutch leadership for devoting personal attention to strengthening our partnership. Together we can achieve the common goals,” added the President.