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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday the 16th of May 2026 hailed India’s rapid technological transformation, democratic resilience and growing global influence while addressing members of the Indian community in The Hague during his visit to the Netherlands.

Speaking to a large gathering of the Indian diaspora, Modi praised the community for maintaining strong cultural ties with India and contributing to the country’s image abroad through their achievements and professional success.

“Delighted to interact with the Indian community in The Hague. Their warmth, achievements and strong bond with India continue to make us proud,” the Prime Minister said.

Emphasising the enduring nature of Indian civilisation, Modi said India’s cultural identity had remained vibrant despite centuries of global change.

“History bears witness that many civilizations and cultures disappeared with the passage of time. But India’s diverse culture still beats strongly in the hearts of its people today,” he said.

The Prime Minister also reflected on his long tenure in public office, describing the continued support he has received from voters over the past two-and-a-half decades as his “greatest asset.”

“13 years as Chief Minister… 12 years of service as Prime Minister… In the democratic world, receiving the continuous support of crores and crores of voters for 25 years… this is a matter of immense good fortune for me,” Modi said.

“For me, this is not just a number… it is my greatest asset,” he added.

Highlighting India’s economic and technological progress, Modi said the country was making major advances in semiconductor manufacturing and emerging technologies. He noted that work was currently underway on 12 semiconductor plants across India, with production already having started at two facilities.

“This means that chips will now be ‘designed in India’ as well as ‘made in India’,” he said.

The Prime Minister also pointed to the rapid growth of India’s startup ecosystem, saying the country now had nearly 125 active unicorns and the world’s third-largest startup network.

“Our startups are doing remarkable work in AI, defense and space sector,” Modi said, adding that India’s innovation-driven economy was opening new opportunities for global cooperation.

Referring to India’s democratic framework, Modi said the country took pride in ensuring participation from every citizen.

“India values the democratic participation of every one of its citizens. And as the mother of democracy, this is a matter of great pride for all of us,” he said.

Modi said India and the Netherlands were working together to build trusted and transparent global supply chains and could deepen cooperation in areas ranging from technology and trade to strategic projects on the international stage.

“India and the Netherlands can coordinate in the global arena and work on securing global projects,” he said.

Describing the current decade as one marked by uncertainty and global crises, Modi referred to the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing international conflicts as major challenges confronting the world community.

“This decade is becoming a decade of challenges for the world,” he said.

At the same time, the Prime Minister asserted that India remained a land of opportunity driven equally by technological advancement and human values.

“India is a land of opportunities. India is both technology driven and humanity driven,” he said.

Modi said India was presently undergoing an unprecedented phase of transformation fuelled by the aspirations of its people.

“Today’s India is going through a phase of unprecedented transformation,” he said.

“Aspirations in India are unlimited, so efforts are also becoming limitless,” the Prime Minister added.

Modi’s address came as India continues to strengthen engagement with European nations, including the Netherlands, in areas such as technology, trade, climate cooperation, semiconductors and strategic supply chains. The Netherlands has emerged as an important economic partner for India within the European Union, with both countries seeking closer cooperation in innovation, water management, clean energy and advanced manufacturing.

The Indian diaspora in the Netherlands, estimated to number over 200,000 people, has played a significant role in enhancing cultural and economic ties between the two countries – (as reported by the news agency UNI on its website).