The Netherlands Signs Framework Contract of International Solar Alliance

A northwestern European country – The Netherlands is known for a flat landscape of canals, tulip fields, windmills and cycling routes. Mark Rutte the Prime Minister of Netherland had a two-day visit to India for the first time after being reelected. During his visit to the country, the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi had insisted PM Rutte join the International Solar Alliance on 24th May 2018. At the Hyderabad house, both the Prime Ministers held wide-ranging discussions on bilateral and international issues.

On 24th May 2018, the Netherlands signed the framework agreement of the India-initiated International Solar Alliance (ISA) following a bilateral summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte. The two countries had also discussed the issues related to Co-operation in the fields of Water, Science and Technology, Health Co-operation, Agriculture and Urban Development, Economy, Security Cooperation, Trade and Investment, Climate Change and Connectivity.

According to the official website of The International Solar Alliance, it is to provide a dedicated platform for cooperation among solar resource prosperous nations. Over here the global community, including bilateral and multilateral organizations, corporate, industry, and other stakeholders, can make an outstanding contribution to assist. Also, it will help in achieving the common goals of increasing the use of Solar Energy in meeting power needs of prospective ISA member countries in an appropriate, convenient, affordable, equitable and sustainable manner.

At the Paris climate summit in 2015, launched by the Prime Minister India Narendra Modi and then French President Francois Hollande, the ISA was conceived as a coalition of solar resource-rich countries to address their special energy needs and provide a platform to collaborate on dealing with the identified gaps through a common, agreed approach.

According to the Prime Minister of India, the benefits of technology, experience and mastery The Netherlands has acquired on solar energy should be shared with the whole world. As per the Energy World from The Economic Times, the media had jointly addressed with the Prime Minister of Netherlands after attending an India-Netherlands CEOs Round Table that followed the bilateral summit, Prime Minister of India said that currently for many years hundreds of Dutch companies have been operating in India.

He further said, “The Netherlands is the fifth largest source of the total foreign direct investment made in India till now, and in recent times, it has even risen to become the third largest source.” Similarly he said that for Indian companies, the Netherlands is a very attractive investment destination, as he reiterated the relevance of agro-processing sectors in the process of developing the Indian economy “which will help to double the farmers’ income.”

According to figures released by the External Affairs Ministry, India and The Netherlands have a bilateral trade of $7.621 billion (April 2017-Feb 2018). Stating that the interaction with the CEOs of the two countries was very productive, the Indian Prime Minister said, “I am happy that the business community of The Netherlands is enthusiastic about the new opportunities arising in India. I have assured them of my strong commitment to the economic reforms.”

In Indo-Dutch water cooperation innovation, technology and governance being key-ingredients, the respective institutions of the two countries have joined hands in several projects. These projects comprises a waste2wealth approach to solid waste and waste water in the Hindon Basin, in assisting leather industries in Kanpur and Unnao to adopt eco-friendly technologies. Also in conservation of water through efficient agriculture practices in the sugarcane industry of Uttar Pradesh.

The Prime Minister of India also said that Indo-Dutch cooperation in science and technology has completed 10 years and expressed confidence that this will be further strengthened when The Netherlands will participate as the partner country in the Tech Summit to be held in India in 2019.

The two nations also signed a wide range of agreements and initiatives across different sectors like knowledge institutions, water, agri-food and horticulture, hi-tech, IT and space, life sciences and health, smart cities, business, and sustainability, apart from Mark Rutte the Prime Minister of Netherlands signing the ISA framework.