Embassy of India The Hague

Country Note in brief - The

Chancery: Embassy of India, Buitenrustweg 2, 2517 KD The Hague Website: WWW.INDIANEMBASSY.NL Basic Facts Name of the country The Kingdom of the Netherlands, Official Capital: Capital Seat of Government: The Hague Province Provincial Capital Province Provincial Capital North Holland Haarlem Gelderland Arnhem South Holland Den Haag Overijssel Names of Provinces and provincial capitals Utrecht Utrecht Drenthe Assen Zeeland Middelburg Groningen Groningen North Brabant Den Bosch Friesland Leeuwarde Limburg Maastricht Flevoland Lelystad Population: 16.486 million (2008) GDP: [€ 672 billion (2008-estimated)] new € 595.1 billion Currency/Exchange rate: Euro; Euro 1 = Rs 69.95 (11/2009) Languages spoken Dutch and English Latitude/Longitude and 51º - 54º N; 3º30' - 7º E time zone of the country: Central European Time (GMT + 1 hour) Time difference: 4-1/2 hrs behind IST (winter); 3-1/2 hrs behind IST (summer) Head of State: Queen Beatrix, since April 1980 (constitutional monarchy) Caretaker government H.E. Dr. Prime Minister: Foreign Minister H.E. Mr. Defence Minister: H.E. Mr. Eimert van Middelkoop Official Website Links Government - www.government.nl Parliament- www.houseofrepresentatives.nl Foreign Ministry - www.minbuza.nl Ministry of Defence - www.mindef.nl Ministry of Economic Affairs - www.minez.nl Central Bureau of Statistics- www.cbs.nl Name, address and De Nederlandsche Bank NV contact details of country's Westeinde, 1017 ZN, Amsterdam central bank: Tel:0031-20-5249111 0031-20-5249111 , Fax: 5242500 Basic foreign, Promotion of peace, freedom & prosperity in the world; development international trade, cooperation as an integral part and moral tool. Supporter of free trade policies due to strong international orientation of its economy (with over 60% of GNP from foreign trade). Strong US ally; founder member of EU. Close economic links with Germany, Belgium, UK and Scandinavia Membership of Member of most international organizations including UN, EU, NATO, organisations: OSCE, WB, IBRD, IMF, OPCW, OECD, Council of Europe,ESCAP, ICC Major industries, global Highly industrialized economy. Chemicals, food processing, electrical companies etc.: goods, engineering goods and hi-tech machinery, services sector (trade, banking, transport and communications), environment, and water management are the main sectors. Main global companies include Shell, Unilever, Philips, Akzo Nobel, ABN AMRO, ING, Rabobank, KLM, etc. Significant economic Industry, trade and services are major sectors. It also has highly activities such as developed floriculture and dairy sectors. The Dutch economy is agriculture, mining, strongly dependent on foreign trade and foreign investment. The knowledge industries etc: Netherlands is the sixth largest investor in the world. It also aspires to emerge as a leader in knowledge-based industries. Global Trade and Total imports into the Netherlands in 2008 were Euro 332.00 bn. Investment: Major exporters were Germany, Belgium, USA, China, UK and France. Total exports from the Netherlands in 2008 were Euro 367.71 bn. Major importers from the Netherlands were Germany, Belgium, UK, France and USA. Principal Exports Machinery and transport equipment, chemical, processed food products, natural gas, flowers Principal Imports Petroleum, textile, chemicals and plastics, food products Investment highlights Total Dutch foreign direct investments abroad at the end of 2007 stood at Euro 595.69 billion as per the Central Bank of the Netherlands. The total Foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Netherlands in 2007 was Euro 491.86 billion. 1. Delft University of Technology; Erasmus University Rotterdam; Major Universities/ Leiden University; Wageningen University (focus on agriculture); Scientific Institutions: Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO); Amsterdam UniversityMaastricht University; Nijmegen University Major Foreign Policy Netherlands Institute of International Relations; Clingendael; Atlantic Institutes Commission Major Tourist attractions: Amsterdam, Tulip Garden (Keukenhoff), Delft hand-painted blue pottery, Traditional windmills (Kinderdijk) Major art forms/cultural Famous for renowned painters Vincent van Gogh, Rembrandt and traditions and venues/ Vermeer. Several museums in the area of art and history. Impressive museums, etc. old and modern architecture. Major Newspapers/ Print Media: De Telegraaf; Algemeen Dagblad ; De Volkskrant Magazine/TV Channels (Correspondent in India); NRC Handelsblad ; Financieel Daghblad with contact details: Television : Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS); Algemene Omroepvereniging (AVRO); Nederlandse Christelijke Radio Vereniging (NCRV); Omroepvereniging (VARA) Radio : Radio Netherlands

India – Netherlands Relations

Introduction : Netherlands is one of the largest investor in India today, with longstanding connections that go back to several centuries.

Political Relations : Independent India was, in Dutch eyes, a developing country and a sturdy democracy, but one struggling at that time, with several political, social and economic issues. While there were some bilateral visits (Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1957; Crown Princess Beatrix in 1962) the Netherlands was engaged in rebuilding its economy after World War II in an emerging Europe. The Netherlands’ focus on India increased after the economic liberalization programme gathered momentum in the 1990s. Prime Minister Wim Kok’s visit to India in November 1999 Dutch government and business circles have, recently begun to move systematically towards expanding trade, investment and technological cooperation.

The Netherlands is an important player in the global energy market and is a member of NSG. Notwithstanding, its staunch position on global non-proliferation regime, it showed understanding for India’s case for civilian nuclear cooperation and played a constructive role during the recent NSG deliberations on India’s specific safeguard agreement.

Recent Exchange of High Level Visits between India and the Netherlands

There has been several high level visits from Netherlands to India in the recent past.. These include the second State Visit of HM Queen Beatrix’ second State visit to India, visit of Dutch PM Balkenende and the visits of Dutch Foreign Trade Minister and Dutch Minister for Transport, Public Works and Water Management.

From the Indian side, high level visits to Netherlands include the visits of Hon’ble Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Hon’ble Minister of S&T Hon’ble Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Shri Kapil Sibal, , Shri Subodh Kant Sahai, Hon’ble Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, Shri Vayalar Ravi, Hon’ble Minister of Law & Justice Shri H.R. Bhardwaj, President ICCR Dr. Karan Singh, Hon’ble Finance Minister Shri P. Chidambaram .

Commercial and Economic Relations : Two-way trade with the Netherlands has shown a growth of over 112.77% during the period 2004-2008 and stood at Euro 3.70 billion during Jan-November 2009. The balance of trade has been in India’s favour for the past several years. Cumulative Dutch investment in India has grown to nearly USD 4 billion in the period April 2000 till Dec 2009 (provisional), accounting for 5% of total inflows, making it the fifth largest investor in India. Most Dutch commercial and financial giants – Philips, Shell, Unilever (Hindustan Lever in India), KLM, the three big banks – ABN AMRO, ING and Rabobank – and others – have had a growing and successful presence in India.

The main Indian exports to the Netherlands are: textiles & garments; electric machinery & equipment; agricultural products and processed foods, including marine products; leather goods; cars and other vehicles; organic chemicals; rubber, plastics & works thereof; mineral and metal products. The main products imported from the Netherlands to India are: machinery & equipment; medical and optical instruments; chemicals; plastics & articles thereof; metal products.

Main Bilateral Treaties and Agreements Various agreements, which together constitute a comprehensive framework for bilateral co-operation, are operational between India and the Netherlands. These include agreements on Air Services (May 1951), Mutual Surrender of Fugitive Criminals (Anglo – Dutch Treaty of 1898 effected in 1971), Economic and Technical Cooperation (February 1983), Cooperation in Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (June 1984, September 1990), MoU on Cultural Cooperation (October 2007), Scientific Cooperation (July and November 1985 respectively), Telecommunication (September 1987), Environmental cooperation (January 1988), Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion (July 1988), Promotion and Protection of Investments (November 1995), and Investment Promotion (February 2004).Social Security Agreement (October 2009).

Multilateral Economic Cooperation The Netherlands has cooperated closely and effectively with India in multilateral trade fora such as the WTO, as also within the EU. It has been generally supportive of India’s positions in particular, on issues such as anti-dumping measures and attempts to link labour and environment factors with trade.

Culture and Education There has been a steady flow of educational exchanges for over 50 years, in fields ranging from Indology to contemporary developmental issues. In a significant development in November 2008, ICCR announced its decision to support Leiden University’s proposal for establishment of the first ever long-term Chair on Contemporary Indian Studies.

The main institutes actively involved in Indian cultural, educational and related promotional activities in the Netherlands are: (i) Kern Institute, University of Leiden (ii) The Institute of Social Studies (iii) Rotterdam Conservatorium, Rotterdam (iv) India Institute Amsterdam and Hindi Parishad

NRI/PIO community

28. There are about 20,000 NRIs / PIOs (not including the Dutch-Surinamese- Hindustani community of Indian origin) in the Netherlands, out of which around 13000 have already obtained Dutch nationality. These NRIs/PIOs are mostly businesspersons or professionals. In addition, there are about 180,000 Dutch-Surinamese-Hindustani of Indian origin. They have Dutch nationality and are wholly integrated into the local society.

Air links with India/convenient travel routes

KLM operates daily direct flights to Delhi, Hyderabad and with North-West Airlines to Mumbai. Several alternative routes via Frankfurt, Moscow, London, Paris, and Vienna are also available on, inter alia, Air India.

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March 2010.