New Delhi, May 16 (IANS). Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held a meeting with leading CEOs of the Netherlands, where top business executives from sectors ranging from aviation and semiconductors to shipping, agriculture and technology lauded India’s economic growth, innovation ecosystem and growing global collaboration under his leadership.
After the conversation, Randstad CEO Sander van ‘t Noordende said that there has been tremendous change in India in the last decade.
“In the last 10 years, everything, infrastructure, technology, consumer goods, as well as labor market and employment, there has been a lot of growth, so I think India is absolutely on the right path, and obviously all this is happening under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi,” he said.
Marjan Rintel, President and CEO, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, highlighted the airline’s long-standing presence in India and its growing operations in the country. He told that KLM has been operating in India for 70 years and recently it has added Hyderabad as its fourth destination in the country.
“We have been connected with each other for a long time, and business and innovation are also very important in India,” he said.
The maritime and shipping sector also came under special discussion during the discussions. Royal IHC BV CEO Dirk Te Bockel said that PM Modi has deep knowledge of the shipping industry from the experience of his previous tenure in Gujarat.
He told that this company helps Indian shipyards in building big dredging ships and it has a workshop in Mumbai, from where advanced equipment is exported all over the world.
Keith Svendsen, CEO of APM Terminals, echoed similar sentiments and recalled PM Modi’s deep understanding of the ports and transport sector during an earlier interaction at the Vibrant Gujarat Forum.
He said that the Prime Minister understands well the importance of port and transport infrastructure in promoting economic growth.
In the semiconductor sector, Maurice Gerats of NXP Semiconductors said that the company has been operating in India since 1969 and currently employs about 4,000 people in the country.
He said that the company sees huge growth opportunities in India in the coming years and described PM Modi’s commitment towards this sector as very encouraging.
Technology investor and Process CEO Fabricio Bloisi said that talks are underway to significantly increase investment in India.
He described Artificial Intelligence as a big opportunity for cooperation between India and the Netherlands and said that the company has full confidence in India’s growth story.
In the field of agriculture, Rijk Zwaan’s Martin Eggink stressed the importance of international cooperation to ensure food security around the world. He said no country can sustain a food system completely on its own and supported PM Modi’s emphasis on cooperation.
Royal HZPC CEO Hans Huistra said his company has been active in India since 2014 and praised the government’s focus on agricultural development.
He further said that the company’s products are helping in the development of India’s agriculture sector.
The meeting also emphasized the growing India-Netherlands cooperation in maritime infrastructure and trade. Arnaut Damen of Damen Shipyards said his company hopes to combine its shipbuilding strengths with India’s development ambitions.
Meanwhile, Boudewijn Simmons said stronger ties between outward-looking economies like India and the Netherlands are a must in the rapidly changing global environment.
–IANS
SCH/DKP