India, Netherlands for synergy between defence, tech sectors

New Delhi, February 23

India and Netherlands are keen to encourage more interaction between defence industries and high-tech sectors like semiconductors and clean energy, said the Ministry of Defence after a bilateral meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his counterpart from Netherlands Kajsa Ollongren today.

The semiconductor push comes from the fact that Dutch company ASML is a global leader in making cutting-edge machines used in manufacturing semiconductor chips. India is looking at developing its own chip-making technology for the military and space sectors.

The MoD said the ministers discussed the possibilities for expanding their bilateral defence cooperation, particularly in maritime and industrial domains.

“They noted the increased interaction between the two navies and expressed keenness to work together to enhance maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region,” the MoD said.