A high-level delegation from the Kingdom of the Netherlands led by Major General Rob de Wit, Deputy Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy, visited Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) to strengthen maritime and defence cooperation between India and the Netherlands.
The delegation also included Her Excellency Marisa Gerards along with senior officials from the Netherlands.
During the visit, the delegation was briefed on CSL’s shipbuilding capabilities, product portfolio, and ongoing projects. The team also toured vessels being constructed for Dutch clients as well as projects executed in collaboration with Dutch companies, reflecting the growing maritime partnership between the two nations.
The visit highlighted the expanding bilateral engagement between India and the Netherlands in the areas of ports, shipping, sustainable maritime technology, and defence manufacturing. The Netherlands remains one of India’s leading foreign direct investment sources, contributing approximately USD 43.75 billion between 2000 and 2023, while also serving as a major European gateway for Indian trade.
The discussions further underscored the importance of the Letter of Intent on Defence Cooperation between the two countries, aimed at fostering co-development and co-production of defence and maritime hardware.