Netherlands Prime Minister Declares India's AI Sector is Booming at Global Summit
New Delhi, Thursday, 19 February 2026.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof praised India’s rapidly expanding artificial intelligence industry during his attendance at the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi this week. The Netherlands leader emphasized the critical role of ‘middle powers’ in bridging technology gaps between developed and developing nations through responsible AI cooperation.
Summit Highlights International AI Cooperation
During his visit to India on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, Schoof attended the AI Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, where he participated in discussions on international cooperation to responsibly accelerate AI development [1][2]. In a social media post, the Dutch Prime Minister declared, “AI is booming here in India. On this first day of my visit, I spoke with various experts about AI technology and policy and India’s role in this area on the world stage” [1][2]. The Netherlands leader engaged with representatives from government, business sector, and civil society during the conference proceedings [1][2].
Middle Powers as Global AI Bridges
Schoof emphasized the strategic importance of middle powers in shaping global AI governance, stating that these nations must “take the lead on this, serving as a bridge between the Global North and South” [1][2]. He delivered remarks on Wednesday at the AI Safety Connect Day event titled “Bending the Bell Curve: How can Middle Powers Shape Global AI Power?” [1][2]. The Dutch Prime Minister highlighted that international cooperation among like-minded countries is essential to responsibly accelerate AI development, positioning the Netherlands as a key facilitator in this process [1][2].
Historic Global South AI Summit
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 represents a milestone as the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South, running from February 16 to February 20, 2026 [1][2]. The summit brings together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators, and civil society representatives from around the world to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence [1][2]. The event aims to reflect on AI’s transformative potential while aligning with India’s national vision of “Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya” (welfare for all, happiness for all) and the global principle of AI for Humanity [1][2].
Netherlands-OECD Agricultural AI Initiative
On February 20, 2026, at 10:00 CET, the Netherlands is collaborating with the OECD to organize a main event during the AI Impact Summit focused on AI’s positive role in strengthening food system resilience and inclusivity [6]. This session will examine how AI can support the transition to more transparent, responsible, and inclusive food systems through concrete practical examples [6]. The panel discussion will explore how governance ambitions can be translated into practical, scalable tools that promote supply chain transparency, improve agricultural sustainability, and enhance risk management capabilities and access to high-quality agricultural data [6].
Bilateral Diplomatic Engagement
Prime Minister Schoof was formally received by Indian Minister of State Jitendra Singh upon his arrival in New Delhi [1][2][5]. The Ministry of External Affairs noted that Schoof’s participation would “further deepen and strengthen the India-Netherlands bilateral partnership,” with MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal extending a warm welcome to the Dutch leader [1][2]. Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held several bilateral meetings on the summit’s sidelines with other world leaders, including Croatia PM Andrej Plenkovic, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Finland PM Petteri Orpo, and Spanish President Pedro Sanchez [1][2].