The Hague: Describing India as a “land of opportunities”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the country is undergoing an “unprecedented transformation” and its aspirations are “no longer limited to its borders”.
Addressing the Indian community in The Hague, the Prime Minister also said that India is dreaming big and its youth aspires to reach the sky.
“India of the 21st century is a land of opportunities. India is both technology-driven and humanity-driven. India is becoming as modern as it is ancient. Therefore, this is also the time to reconnect with the villages of your ancestors in India, and to participate in the journey towards a developed India,” Modi said in his over 40-minute speech.
He urged all “friends of India” in the Netherlands to deepen their engagement with India. “This will strengthen India’s capabilities, and it will also bring greater returns on your investments — and this is Modi’s guarantee,” he said, amid applause from the audience.
“Today, our India too is dreaming on a very grand scale. Today, the nation is saying – we do not seek merely transformation; we seek the best. And not only the best, we want the fastest. That is why, when aspirations in India are unlimited, our efforts too are becoming limitless,” he said.
Modi said the youth of India aspire to touch the skies now, and cited that as a reason behind India’s startup ecosystem getting stronger. “Now we are the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world,” he added.
“Today, India’s aspirations are not limited merely to its own borders. India wishes to host the Olympics, become a global manufacturing hub, emerge as a leader in green energy, and serve as an engine of growth for the world,” he said.
Modi said that India is passing through a phase of “unprecedented transformation”.
He further said, “You may have seen recently that India hosted the world’s largest and most successful AI Summit. Before that, India had also successfully hosted the G20 New Delhi Summit. These were not merely one-time events; this has now become the character and confidence of today’s India.”
“India reached a part of the Moon where no one had reached before. India is also successfully working on one of the world’s most advanced fast breeder reactors in the field of nuclear energy,” said Modi, referring to India’s space mission and energy sector.
India made history when its Chandrayaan-3 mission successfully executed a soft landing on the lunar far side – often referred to as the ‘dark side’ – in 2023.
Recalling how India had only four unicorns in 2014, Modi said the country now has nearly 125 active unicorns.
“Today, our startups are doing remarkable work in sectors such as AI, defence, and space. With time, this culture of research and innovation is becoming even more expansive,” he said.
India’s aspiration-driven journey is also strengthening its democracy, as he mentioned the recently held assembly elections in several regions.
“When people’s dreams are fulfilled, their faith in democracy grows stronger as well,” Modi said.
This time, voter turnout in Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry ranged between 80 to 90 per cent. Women’s participation, in particular, has increased significantly, Modi said, adding that this trend is visible across every state. “Today, voters in India are enthusiastic, and all of you are equally enthusiastic. We take pride in the fact that new voting records are being set year after year,” he added.
India values the democratic participation of every citizen, and as the Mother of Democracy, this is a matter of great pride for all of us, the prime minister said.
Modi also took a jibe at the opposition parties, asking the audience if the popular snack Jhalmuri has reached the Netherlands as well.
During campaigning ahead of the assembly elections in West Bengal, Modi was seen enjoying Jhalmuri at a local shop. His party later won the elections in the state with a sweeping majority.
Modi said the Netherlands will become the “natural gateway” for Indian businesses to enter Europe and added that the Indian diaspora can serve as a trusted bridge in this journey.
Referring to the COVID pandemic, global conflicts, and the energy crisis caused by the ongoing conflict in West Asia, Modi said this decade is increasingly turning into a “decade of disasters” for the world.
“We can all see that if these conditions are not changed swiftly, the achievements of many past decades could be undone. A very large section of the world’s population could once again be pushed into the quagmire of poverty,” he warned.
Modi said India and the Netherlands are working together to build a trusted, transparent, and future-ready supply chain.
“From energy security to water security, the Netherlands and India are cooperating closely. Our collaboration in the field of green hydrogen is especially significant. Moreover, the historic trade agreement between India and the European Union will further strengthen the partnership between India and the Netherlands,” he said.
Underlining that the Netherlands is known for tulips, Modi said India is known for the lotus.
“Both the tulip and the lotus teach us that whether one’s roots are in water or in the earth, with the right nourishment, both beauty and strength can flourish. This, too, is the foundation of the partnership between India and the Netherlands,” he added.
Modi also said both countries are working together in many ways in the field of sports.
Hailing the Indian community’s contribution to Netherlands’ cricket, he said, “We all feel great when we see Teja Nidamanuru and Vikramjit Singh in the Netherlands jersey, or when young players like Aryan Dutt contribute to the future of Dutch cricket.”
Modi also said that many cultures have vanished over time. But India’s diverse culture “continues to beat strongly in the hearts of its people even today.”
“Generations have changed, countries have changed, and surroundings have changed – but family values have not changed,” he said.
Prime Minister Modi assured the diaspora that the Government of India stood firmly behind every Indian living abroad and remained committed to their welfare.
On arrival, Modi was accorded a warm and colourful reception by a large gathering of the Indian diaspora and friends of India in the Netherlands.
“I express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for this warm welcome. And as I was entering here, I saw the whole of Maharashtra, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mero Pyaro Rajasthan, and ‘A’ for Assam…,” he said.
Modi said that for a moment, he had forgotten he was in the Netherlands. “It feels as though a festival is underway somewhere in India itself!”
Highlighting the relevance of May 16, Modi told the audience how his party won the general elections in India on this date 12 years ago, adding that “a stable and absolute majority government was set to be formed in India after decades”.
Modi said he was “deeply immersed in the spirit of patriotism” from a very young age.
“When I look back, I see 13 years of service as Chief Minister, 12 years as Prime Minister, 25 years in the democratic world, receiving the continuous support of crores upon crores of voters is, for me, a matter of immense good fortune,” he said.
Modi arrived in the Netherlands on Friday from the UAE on the second leg of his five-nation tour to further deepen bilateral cooperation in areas such as trade, technology, defence and renewable energy. Other countries in the official tour include Sweden, Norway and Italy.
