NITI Aayog and embassy of the Netherlands, New Delhi, have signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) to support the decarbonisation and energy transition agenda for accommodating cleaner and more energy.

The SoI was signed by NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant and ambassador of the Netherlands to India Marten van den Berg. 

Significance of this agreement

India and the Netherlands have ambitious sustainable energy targets and face similar issues in realising cleaner energy transition goals. Initiatives under this SoI will help both the countries to move towards becoming climate-resilient economies. 

Apart from the ongoing emphasis on renewable energy, India stands committed to the rapid adoption of electric vehicles. Given the enormous potential the partnership holds, the thematic areas within the broad topic of energy transition and climate change, the partnership with the Netherlands  will help both countries derive natural synergies to achieve sustainable development goals.

Clean energy is critical for achieving sustainable development and is at the forefront of the global agenda. The cooperation between the two countries can solve a range of challenges in obtaining, adapting and effectively using technologies for sustainable development.

How will the partnership work?

NITI Aayog and the Dutch embassy seek a strategic partnership to create a platform that enables a comprehensive collaboration among stakeholders and influencers, including policymakers, industry bodies, original equipment manufacturers (OEM), private enterprises and sector experts.

The focus of the partnership is on co-creating innovative technological solutions by leveraging the expertise of the two entities. This will be achieved through an exchange of knowledge and collaborative activities. 

Key elements include:

• Lowering the net carbon footprint in industrial and transport sectors.

• Realise the target potential of natural gas and promote bio-energy technologies.

• Adopt clean air technologies from monitoring to reducing actual particulates.

• Adopt next-generation technologies such as hydrogen, carbon capture utilisation and storage for sectoral energy efficiency.

• Financial frameworks to deliver and adopt climate change finance.

India-Netherlands relations

India and Netherlands established official relations in 1947. Since the early 1980s, the Dutch government has identified India as an important economic partner. Bilateral relations underwent further intensification after India’s economic liberalization in the early 1990s. In 2006, former Prime Minister Balkenende’s government declared India, along with China and Russia, as priority countries in Dutch foreign policy.

In terms of trade and investment, India has strong economic interests in the Netherlands. It is one among India’s top EU trading partners. As much as 20 per cent of India’s exports to the European continent goes through the Netherlands, making it India’s ‘gateway to Europe’ and one of the top five investors in the country. 

There are over 200 Indian companies operating in the Netherlands. The Netherlands emerged as the third largest investor in India in 2017-2018 with investments valued at $2.67 billion across a variety of sectors such as services sector, trading, automobile industry, fermentation industries, chemicals and water management. 

The Netherlands is keen to intensify its business relations with India to emerge as the country’s hub for doing business with Europe. Both the countries complement each other and by working together can combine forces to find new solutions to shape the future and tackle societal challenges, especially in the energy and climate sectors.

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