India and the Netherlands set up joint trade and investment committee

India and the Netherlands have announced the establishment of the India–Netherlands Joint Trade and Investment Committee through a Memorandum of Understanding, marking a significant step toward strengthening bilateral trade, investment, and broader economic cooperation. The MoU was signed between the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of the Government of India and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and was formally announced during Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel’s visit to India, alongside his bilateral meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

The MoU establishes the Joint Trade and Investment Committee as a formal institutional framework for regular dialogue and cooperation on trade and investment matters. The committee is designed to serve as a dedicated mechanism to review bilateral trade relations, promote two-way investments, address trade and investment barriers, and explore collaboration across sectors of shared interest.

Under the agreement, the committee will meet annually, alternating between India and the Netherlands, to ensure continuity and sustained institutional engagement. It will be co-chaired by the Additional Secretary in India’s Department of Commerce and the Director General for Foreign Economic Relations in the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with delegations comprising government officials and other designated members from both sides.

The committee’s mandate includes identifying and eliminating trade and investment barriers, developing facilitation measures in priority areas, and promoting structured engagement between chambers of commerce and industry in both countries. Particular emphasis will be placed on micro, small and medium enterprises, alongside efforts to enhance cooperation in sectors of mutual interest through consultations between governments and the private sector, technical know-how exchange and the transfer of technological innovation, especially for small and micro enterprises.

The signing of the MoU reflects a shared commitment to deepen the economic partnership between India and the Netherlands, strengthen resilient and diversified supply chains, and advance sustainable and inclusive growth. It also aligns with ongoing bilateral and multilateral engagements, reinforcing the strategic dimension of the India–Netherlands relationship.

Both sides expressed confidence that the newly established committee would play a central role in delivering mutually beneficial trade and investment outcomes and in advancing economic cooperation between the two countries.

Source: India Shipping News