As uncertainty looms over the US 4-5-billion dollar bilateral trade between the Netherlands and India, the former, one of the gateways to Europe, is eyeing mutual cooperation with Gujarat companies for growth in future. The Dutch ambassador to India, Alphonsus Stoelinga, along with 30 companies had come to Ahmedabad on Friday.
“We have not come here either to sign any contract for import or export or for outsourcing. But, we have come here to look beyond trade. We have come here with a long-term vision of mutual cooperation,” said Stoelinga.
The 30-company Dutch delegation included companies dealing in urban infrastructure, agriculture, education, finance and other sectors. “We have come to a match-making platform where companies have to decide either to reject or accept the proposal. This may end up in joint venture or subsidiary or any other kind of business relationship,” said the ambassador.
The mutual cooperation should increase the strength of both the economies, he said. “Through this kind of match-making, both countries will help each other in generating employment which would boost the confidence of the companies in both the countries and later, they may become strategic partners,” said Stoelinga.
“At present, exports from Netherlands to India are around $2.8 billion. But exports from India to Netherlands are around $10 billion to $11 billion. Of the total Indian exports, only 20% is for Netherlands and the rest is re-exported to other European countries,” said the envoy.
Talking about slowdown in Europe, Stoelinga said the situation was improving, albeit slowly. “Right now, our exports to other European countries have weakened. But compared to the last two years, the situation has improved and we are hoping growth to stabilise soon,” he explained.
