Recently, India and the Netherlands have signed an MoU establishing the Joint Trade and Investment Committee to deepen bilateral trade, investment, and supply-chain cooperation.
About the Joint Trade and Investment Committee (JTIC)
The JTIC is a formal, institutional mechanism for annual dialogue between India and the Netherlands to strengthen trade and investment ties.
Objectives of the India -Netherlands JTIC
- Contribute to the identification and elimination of trade and investment barriers.
- Contribute to identification of trade and investment facilitation measures, including in the focus areas of cooperation.
- Promote interaction between various Chambers of Commerce and Industry between the two countries; especially in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).
- Explore enhancement of cooperation in sectors of mutual interest including organizing consultations between the private sector and the governments to enhance bilateral trade and investment flows including exchange of technical knowhow and transfer of technology
Current Status of India–Netherlands Trade Relations
- Robust Trade: Total bilateral trade reached $27.78 billion in FY25 (April 2024–March 2025), reflecting strong economic engagement.
- Favourable Balance for India: India maintains a substantial trade surplus of $17.769 billion, underlining export strength.
- Key Export Gateway: The Netherlands is India’s largest merchandise export destination in Europe, acting as a gateway for Indian goods into the EU.
- Investment Partnership: The Netherlands is India’s 4th largest foreign investor, with cumulative FDI exceeding $53 billion by March 2025.
- Trade Composition:
- Indian exports: Petroleum products, electronics, engineering goods, organic chemicals, and pharmaceuticals.
- Indian imports: Drug formulations, computer hardware, and medical instruments.
Significance
The establishment of the JTIC institutionalises economic cooperation, reinforces strategic trust, and positions India–Netherlands relations for future-oriented, resilient, and sustainable growth.