India, Netherlands hold first Ministerial-level meeting of Joint Working Group

Tags: International Relations International News

The 1st Ministerial-level meeting of the Joint Working Group between India and the Netherlands was held on 3 April in New Delhi.

An overview of the news

• The meeting was held in the presence of Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Minister for Infrastructure and Water Management, Government of the Netherlands, Mark Harbours.

• The 'Strategic Water Partnership' was launched during a virtual meeting between the Prime Ministers of India and the Netherlands in April 2021.

• The partnership provides the necessary impetus to expand bilateral water cooperation.

• The Netherlands is associated with various states and municipalities, including Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Punjab, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Maharashtra, in various water resources projects.

• River-city alliance between the two countries for river-sensitive cities and technologically driven nature-based solutions for river rejuvenation.

India-Netherlands Relations

• India and the Netherlands enjoy long-standing warm and friendly relations based on shared values of democracy, rule of law, human rights and historical bonds of friendship.

• Both countries share common ideals of democracy, pluralism and rule of law.

• Bilateral relations have been marked by strong economic and commercial ties.

• The Netherlands signed the Framework Agreement of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and became the 64th signatory member country.

• There are over 200 Indian companies operating in the Netherlands.

• The total bilateral trade stood at US$ 6.28 billion in the financial year 2018-2019.

• The Netherlands was India's fourth largest trading partner in the European Union after Britain, Germany and Belgium.

About Netherlands

• The Netherlands, also known as Holland, is a country located in northwestern Europe.

• Monarch: King Willem-Alexander

• Prime Minister: Mark Rutte

• Capital: Amsterdam

• Currency: euro