'Netherlands, now a member of International Solar Alliance,' says Modi

Prime Minister of Netherlands Mark Rutte arrived in India on a two-day visit. This comes within a year of PM Modi's visit to Netherlands last June. It will be Rutte's second visit to India since June 2015 but the first after being reelected Prime Minister in 2017.

Indian and Netherlands Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mark Rutte, respectively, attended the CEO's conference where the two leaders discussed issues crucial for India's development.

Addressing media, Modi said,''I had urged Netherlands to join the International Solar Alliance and I am happy tell you that Netherlands has become a member of the International Solar Alliance.''

''The areas of agriculture and food processing are important to us, and Netherlands has expertise in both the fields. I am happy to share that Indo-Dutch Centre of Excellence for Vegetables has started in Pune's Baramati,'' PM Modi said in Delhi.

Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of Netherlands said,''Many Indian companies, which are active in the Netherlands, are helping us to build a more successful & more resilient society. I look forward to all the future meetings.''

Earlier, Modi welcomed the Dutch prime minister to India and said he looks forward to holding talks with him later in the day. "India welcomes you Prime Minister Rutte. I look forward to our talks today," Modi tweeted in English and Dutch.

It said Rutte would be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising deputy prime minister, minister for foreign trade and development cooperation, minister for infrastructure and water management, and minister for medical care.

In addition, about 231 business delegates representing 130 firms had registered to join the trade mission accompanying Rutte, the MEA stated. Besides the official engagements in Delhi, Rutte is likely to visit Bengaluru, to visit the ISRO campus among other activities.

India and The Netherlands have a bilateral trade of 5.39 billion dollars. The Netherlands is the 5th largest investor in India. The Netherlands is also home to a 2 lakh 35 thousand strong Indian Diaspora, the largest in mainland Europe.