Netherlands Calling: Let Us Go Dutch
Seafarers, Port & Dredging, Shipbuilding in India

The Visit of The Netherlands’ Minister of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, Mr. Camiel Eurlings to India have strengthened the Maritime relation between both the countries. During his stay, the Minister visited Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.
Mr. Camiel Eurlings was accompanied by a large business delegation of over 50 Dutch companies operating in the fields of airport development; aviation; maritime transport and other logistic and distribution sectors.
The visit underlines the good relationship between India and The Netherlands and is aimed at further strengthening the cooperation between both countries in the abovementioned sectors with a mission more sector focused to follow up the successful earlier visits of the Netherlands’ Ministers for Foreign Trade Mr. Van Gennip in September 2006 and Mr. Heemskerk in November 2007.
Maritime MoU signed with Holland
The Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Mr T. R. Baalu, and Mr Camiel Eurlings, Minister of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, the Netherlands, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on various areas concerning shipping and port sectors.
The MoU envisages cooperation in the fields of port planning and development; maritime transport and logistics; shipbuilding; research and development; safety and security and stimulation of cargo flows between the two countries.
The MoU will help in boosting ties between the two countries in the maritime sector. On the occasion, Mr Baalu provided the Dutch Minister the details of the National Maritime Development Programme and said that India was also in the process of setting up two international-size shipyards, one each on the Eastern and Western coast. He opined that the two sides could cooperate in these areas.
Dredging was another field in which the Netherlands could share its expertise, he said. Inland water transport could be another area for cooperation. He also sought the Netherlands’ expertise in maritime education.
Scholarships Galore
The Netherlands announced 12 scholarships for Indian maritime officers and engineers. It was also decided that a study would be conducted for supply chain management for carriage of goods from the Indian hinterland to the Netherlands’ ports.
Activities on The Side Line
Seminar On Challenges and Opportunities in Port, Hinterland Logistics and Shipbuilding Technology
One Day Seminar on “Challenges and Opportunities in Ports, Hinterland Logistics and Shipbuilding Technology was organized by Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management of the Netherlands along with the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Royal Embassy of Netherlands and Holland Marine Equipment Association on 13th Feb’08 at Taj President Hotel, Mumbai.
The seminar highlighted features like Port Planning and Design, Shipbuilding and design, Salvage Operations, Dredging, Hinterland Transport and Logistics.


India and Netherlands to open up all possible areas of JVs
Ms. Kiran Dhingra D.G Shipping, Govt. Of India highlighted the growth in Indian Maritime Sector and the need to concentrate on various bottleneck aspects of the shipping industry and also suggested they ways to improve the Shipping and Logistics industry in India.
Ms. Dhingra highlighted issue like container movement, port development and also addressed the issue of shortage of seafarers. Ms. Dhingra also appealed to The Netherland delegation and to The Minister of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, Mr. Camiel Eurlings to discuss all possible ventures with the Indian Shipping Industry including giving opportunity to Indian ratings to work on their Inland transport and to absorb Indian talent/manpower at maximum level in The Netherlands.


Mr. Camiel Eurlings, Minister of Transport Public Works and Water Management, The Nertherlands
India and the Netherlands share a special and cordial relationship, going back many centuries. To this day there is a great potential for more growth in trade and investments, as both partners are strongly committed to further intensifying existing bilateral cooperation. For me this visit represents the drawing of a new era in the relationship between the Ministry of Transport, Public Work and Water Management and our counterparts in India.
The size and composition of my delegation which includes high profile companies selected on the basis of their expertise and international experience clearly indicates the Dutch commitment to make a difference in the filed of Maritime Transport and Logistics, port and airport development.
I consider it a privilege to visit India in my capacity as Minister of Transport, Public Works and Water Management and feel confident that this visit will further strengthen the friendship and good relations between our countries, both on a governmental and business level.

Matchmaking Seminars
This high profile seminar was followed by the two workshops on “Port and Hinterland Logistics” and Shipbuilding Technology” followed by the Matchmaking program between the Dutch and the Indian delegation. The matchmaking program was highly appreciated by the delegates as they could interact with the Dutch companies of same interest.