Netherlands: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with Netherlands Prime Minister Rob Jetten, visited the iconic Afsluitdijk Dam, highlighting the growing cooperation between the two countries in water management, climate resilience and sustainable infrastructure.
The Afsluitdijk, a 32-kilometre-long dam and causeway, is regarded as a global model in flood control and land reclamation. It protects large parts of the Netherlands from the North Sea while also supporting freshwater storage.
During the visit, both leaders discussed similarities between the Dutch project and India’s proposed Kalpasar project in Gujarat. The Kalpasar project aims to build a massive freshwater reservoir across the Gulf of Khambhat, along with facilities for tidal power generation, irrigation and transportation.
In this context, India and the Netherlands welcomed the signing of a Letter of Intent between India’s Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management for technical cooperation on the Kalpasar project.
The two sides noted that Dutch expertise in hydraulic engineering and India’s large-scale implementation capabilities offer strong opportunities for collaboration.
The visit also reaffirmed the India-Netherlands Strategic Partnership on Water and reflected the shared commitment of both nations towards innovation, sustainability and climate-resilient infrastructure.
