TRADE TEAM: The Netherlands Minister for Foreign Trade Karien van Gennip (right) at a press meet in Chennai on Thursday. The leader of the business delegation accompanying her, Rutger Koopmans, also in the picture. — Photo: K. Pichumani

CHENNAI: The Netherlands is keen on strengthening economic ties with India and as part of this emphasis, welcomes knowledge workers from India. It is also keen to explore business opportunities in many areas in India, including bio-technology, infrastructure and waste management.

"Knowledge workers [from India] are welcome in The Netherlands," its Minister for Foreign Trade Karien van Gennip told presspersons here on Thursday. They are needed there, "whether it is research in universities, or work in companies ... ," she explained.

Ms. Gennip is in Chennai, on the last leg of her five-day tour to India, and scheduled to address the `Connect 2006' conference on information and communication technology on Friday and visit a few companies. The Minister, coming after visiting New Delhi and Hyderabad, is accompanied by a 30-member business delegation and will participate in the 10th anniversary of The Netherlands business support offices in India.

According to her, a number of steps aimed at speeding up the visa issuing process, making it more transparent and service-oriented has been introduced since May this year.

Describing them as major steps, she said the situation had changed and if there were still complaints, they were perceptions based on the old situation. The Netherlands Ambassador E.F.Ch. Niehe, who was also present at the meet, said 160 new visas had been issued for knowledge workers in the last couple of months.

On the bilateral economic ties, Ms. Gennip said there was a lot of room for improvement and The Netherlands was keen on enhancing the mutual investments and increasing the technology and scientific partnership. It was keen on extending assistance to India in agriculture and environmental techniques.

To a query on the issues for Holland investors in India, the Minister said the Dutch companies wanted harmonisation in the fiscal and legal framework across the country and lesser bureaucracy.

Rutger Koopmans of The Netherlands Indian Chamber of Commerce and Trade, who is leading the business delegation, said the visit was intended to explore business opportunities and promote Holland in a coordinated fashion.

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