India and the Netherlands Agreed to Enhance Trade and Economic Ties

India and the Netherlands on 5 July 2011 agreed to redouble efforts to enhance trade and economic ties, which stands at over Five Billion Euros at present. The decision was taken after the External Affairs Minister SM Krishna held extensive talks with his Dutch counterpart Uri Rosenthal in New Delhi. Uri Rosenthal is on a three-day visit to India from 5 July 2011 to 7 July 2011.

Netherland also backed India’s permanent membership in an expanded UN Security Council. India and Netherland held discussion on a wide range of topics including the global financial architecture and economic ties. They also held discussions on the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan, West Asia and North Africa and ways of combating militancy. India has planned to open a cultural centre in the Netherlands.

The Netherlands is one of India’s key economic partners in Europe, with bilateral trade estimated to be over 5 billion euros, which is in India’s favour.