THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS — Issuing a stark warning regarding global economic stability, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared on Friday that the world is currently traversing through a critical “decade of disasters.” Addressing a large gathering of the Indian diaspora in The Hague during his official visit to the Netherlands, Modi pointed out that the cascading impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing global conflicts, and the current energy crisis threaten to derail decades of hard-earned economic development. Without swift international intervention, he cautioned, these overlapping crises could undo historical progress and plunge millions of vulnerable individuals back into poverty.
In light of these pressing global instabilities, the Prime Minister stressed that the international community must place a high priority on creating resilient, transparent, and future-ready supply chains. Modi framed the deepening strategic partnership between India and the Netherlands as a crucial element in this global effort, particularly through collaborative ventures in energy security, sustainable water management, and green technologies. He characterized the Netherlands as a natural gateway for Indian enterprises aiming to establish a presence in broader European markets, especially following the recently finalized India-European Union trade agreement.
Turning his focus to the local community, Modi highly praised the Indian diaspora in the Netherlands—which represents the largest concentration of Indian-origin individuals in mainland Europe. He lauded the community for acting as a trusted, living bridge that understands both Indian aspirations and European regulatory standards while beautifully preserving cultural traditions across generations. In a major policy announcement that drew widespread applause from the audience, the Prime Minister revealed that Overseas Citizen of India card eligibility for the 200,000-strong Surinamese-Hindustani community has been officially extended from the fourth to the sixth generation.
Modi concluded his wide-ranging address by showcasing India’s rapid internal transformation into a tech-driven global powerhouse. He highlighted the country’s massive strides in infrastructure expansion, artificial intelligence, semiconductor manufacturing, and green hydrogen initiatives. Pointing to the nation’s world-leading digital public infrastructure, the Prime Minister noted that India now seamlessly processes over 20 billion UPI transactions every single month and has grown into the third-largest startup ecosystem on the planet, proving that its democratic foundations are strengthening in lockstep with its economic rise.
