India-Netherlands bilateral cooperation

India and the Netherlands have expanded their bilateral cooperation across public health and water management sectors.

In early September, an Indian delegation visited the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) in Amsterdam to discuss public health issues and explore potential cooperation. This followed previous high-level engagements regarding water management, including technical consultations for the Kalpasar Project in Gujarat.

On September 24, 2026, the strategic water partnership was further strengthened through the signing of two tripartite Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in New Delhi during the 9th India International Water Week. The agreements were finalized during a bilateral meeting co-chaired by India’s Union Minister for Jal Shakti, C R Patil, and the Netherlands’ Vice Minister for Infrastructure and Water Management, Jaap Slootmaker.

The MoUs involve the Central Water Commission, the Kalpasar Department of the Government of Gujarat, and Dutch knowledge institutions Deltares and TU Delft. This collaboration aims to provide technical expertise for the Kalpasar Project’s survey, construction, and capacity-building efforts. Key areas of focus include hydraulic and hydrological modeling, coastal and infrastructure engineering, climate change resilience, flood protection, and digital technology.

The Kalpasar Project seeks to create a freshwater reservoir using runoff from the Sabarmati, Mahi, and Dhadhar rivers, supplemented by the Narmada River. This initiative builds on a May 2026 Letter of Intent signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Netherlands, with a roadmap aimed at implementation by 2030.