Archive · 28 Sep 2026
Dutch Minister Sees Win-Win Farm Ties During India Visit
The Netherlands’ agriculture minister visited India to discuss working together on farming.
The two countries became strategic partners in May.
They want to share technology, ideas and knowledge about seeds and crops.
They also want to make trade easier by reducing non-tariff barriers.
The minister said this could help both countries.
Dutch companies already work in India in areas such as seeds, dairy and horticulture.
Eighteen more companies joined the minister’s delegation.
The visit includes meetings in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
India and the European Union are also working toward signing a trade agreement later this year.
Dutch Food Security Minister Silvio Erkens began India’s first Dutch cabinet-level visit since the May strategic partnership announcement.
Talks focused on agriculture, seeds, horticulture, food safety, innovation and reducing trade barriers.
Erkens said cooperation and knowledge sharing could benefit both countries’ agricultural sectors.
More than 350 Dutch companies already operate in India, with 18 firms accompanying Erkens on the trip.
The visit includes New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru as India-EU free-trade agreement discussions advance.
- Who
- Silvio Erkens, the Netherlands’ minister for food security, fisheries and horticulture, and Indian government counterparts.
- What
- They discussed agricultural cooperation, seeds, technology, food safety, horticulture and trade barriers.
- When
- The visit follows the strategic partnership announced in May; an India-EU trade agreement is expected to be signed in December.
- Where
- New Delhi, with further programmes planned in Mumbai and Bengaluru, India.
- Why
- To strengthen the new strategic partnership, expand agricultural cooperation and support easier India-EU trade.
- Dutch minister
- Silvio Erkens, minister for food security, fisheries and horticulture
- Strategic partnership
- India and the Netherlands elevated ties to a strategic partnership in May
- Dutch companies in India
- More than 350 firms operate in sectors including potatoes, seeds, poultry, dairy and horticulture
- Business delegation
- Erkens is travelling with 18 companies focused on seeds, crop protection, logistics and technology
- Agricultural cooperation
- Discussions cover innovation, knowledge sharing, seed cooperation and possible technology transfer
- Existing understandings
- Officials have signed horticulture and food-safety understandings, including clean plant centres and dairy training
- Trade agreement
- India-EU free-trade negotiations concluded earlier this year, with signing expected in December