Bengaluru: The Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte will lead the largest ever trade delegation to Bengaluru on May 25 which will consist of 120 businessmen, two ministers and the Mayor of The Hague. They will focus on business synergies and partnerships between the Netherlands and Bengaluru-based companies that are working in life sciences and healthcare, smart cities, high-tech and space.
Jaap Werner, Consul General of the Netherlands, told the media on Monday, “We had our presence in different areas till now in the country and now we would like to upgrade ourselves in reaching out to the Karnataka government as well as business communities and academics.”
The line-up of events on May 25 includes an ‘Innovation power lunch’, where Mr Rutte will meet 10 Indian CEOs, and a plenary session on “partners in Innovation and infrastructure” which will be addressed by the Netherlands Minister for Foreign Trade & Development Cooperation and Mr Hans de Boer, President of the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers, VNO-NCW.
The plenary session will be followed by two parallel sessions, on Smart Cities – “The Future of Living”, and on high-tech – “Designing the Future” by the Mayor of the Hague Pauline Krikke on the collaboration between Hague and Karnataka on cyber security and technology.
Mr Rutte will visit the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), followed by a Q&A session with over 100 students, organised by Nuffic Neso India. He will inspire students pursuing PhD to explore Holland for higher studies and R&D collaboration in areas of economic growth for both countries.
