At a reception marking the 77th Republic Day of India, the Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, H.E. Mr. Kumar Tuhin, and his spouse, Mrs. Deepa Tuhin, warmly welcomed H.E. Mr. David van Weel, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands; Secretary General of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, H.E Mr. Christian Rebergen; Ambassador H.E. Mr. Fernando Arias, Director-General of the OPCW; Ambassador H.E. Dr. Marcin Czepelak, Secretary General of PCA; Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Managing Director of the Common Fund for Commodities; H.E. Mr. Philippe Gautier, Registrar of the International Court of Justice;  H.E. Ms. Marisa Gerards, Ambassador of the Netherlands to India, as well as ambassadors, representatives of international organizations, and senior figures from Dutch political, business, and societal circles.

Republic Day commemorates the entry into force of the Constitution of India on 26 January 1950, symbolizing the country’s democratic foundations. While India’s civilizational history spans millennia, the Ambassador emphasized the extraordinary progress achieved since independence, particularly over the past decade.

Ambassador Tuhin delivered an address highlighting India’s remarkable economic and technological progress, positioning the country among the fastest-growing major economies worldwide. He noted significant advances in infrastructure development, aviation, digitalization, and the startup ecosystem, underscoring India’s emergence as a global innovation hub and India’s strong commitment to sustainable development, with substantial growth in solar and renewable energy and an ambitious target of achieving 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030.

He also emphasized the rapidly evolving partnership between India and the European Union. The presence of the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission as Chief Guests at India’s Republic Day celebrations was cited as a strong signal of strategic convergence. India and the EU are advancing agreements on trade, investment, security, and a joint strategic agenda, including an EU–India Security and Defence Partnership.

Quoting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the Ambassador recalled:
“A successful India makes the world more stable, prosperous and secure.”

Within this broader European context, the Ambassador placed particular emphasis on the special relationship between India and the Netherlands. He highlighted recent high-level engagements, including meetings between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Dick Schoof, as well as the recent visit of Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel to India. These interactions reflect growing cooperation across trade, innovation, climate, and multilateral diplomacy.

He concluded with a symbolic toast capturing the spirit of friendship and shared aspirations:
“To the health, prosperity and happiness of the people of India and the Netherlands and to the special friendship between the Republic of India and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.”