An Indian trade delegation visited Eindhoven, the semiconductor hub of the Netherlands, on Wednesday to discuss investment opportunities as India speeds up the development of its domestic chip industry.

India has committed billions of dollars in subsidies to attract wafer fabrication plants and related manufacturing facilities. Currently, eight projects are underway, including a $14 billion plant by Tata Electronics in Gujarat.

At the same time, Dutch semiconductor companies are actively exploring new markets and diversifying their geographic presence in response to export controls and trade restrictions arising from technological competition.

Michel Smit of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) stated, "There are clear opportunities for Dutch companies, starting with equipment exports, and given India’s large pool of engineering talent, establishing manufacturing bases here in the future."

Manish Huda, Technical Director of the India Semiconductor Mission, suggested that Dutch firms adopting a "China + 1" manufacturing strategy should consider India as an alternative production base outside China.

"If they are interested in setting up operations in India, we are very open to that," Huda said.

The Eindhoven region is home to leading chip equipment maker ASML Holding NV and dozens of its key suppliers, as well as the headquarters of chip manufacturer NXP Semiconductors.

ASML disclosed last week that it plans to set up a support office in India, though a spokesperson declined to provide further details.

Huda noted that India’s subsidy program, launched in 2021, can cover up to 50% of project costs, with state governments offering an additional 20–25%. He added that a second subsidy scheme, expected to be approved on March 30, may be even larger in scale.

Smit mentioned that between 50 and 60 Dutch companies applied to meet with the Indian delegation.

Indian engineers already make up a significant portion of the tech talent in the Netherlands. According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the Indian-origin population in the country tripled from 2014 to 2024, reaching 89,000, with over 10,000 residing in the Eindhoven region.

Both countries hope to announce a strategic partnership during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s planned visit to the Netherlands later this year.