Prime Minister Mark Rutte Invites Indian Technology Companies to Apply for The Hague's Digital Soft Landing Programme During Trade Mission

Dutch (Demissionary) Prime Minister Mark Rutte is on a trade mission in India. The goal is bolstering economic ties for both countries for the domains of Key Enabling Technologies (KETs), Medical Technologies and Sustainable Food Systems. As part of the KET track, The Hague & Partners is launching a unique initiative called Digital Softlanding Programme Cyber Security between the Netherlands and India. The aim of this programme is to help India’s top 10 Cyber Security companies with their European expansion via the Netherlands. During the trade reception in Bangalore on 11 September, Demissionary Prime Minister Mark Rutte inaugurated the programme and made a call to action for India’s best Cyber Security companies to apply.

The Programme is a government-sponsored initiative with the aim of helping innovative cyber security companies validate their entry strategy for the European market through a structured 4-step digital process before their physical expansion. This initiative is executed by a consortium of public and private partners consisting of: The Hague & Partners, Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency, InnovationQuarter, Municipality of The Hague, Security Delta (HSD) and Dutch Basecamp.  

"Specialising in enabling international companies to flourish within the dynamic Greater Rotterdam-The Hague region, our steadfast support guarantees a smooth and prosperous entry into this innovation-rich hub, fortified by a formidable cybersecurity ecosystem." Chris van Voorden, Director of Foreign Investment of InnovationQuarter.

Anesh Kisoen of The Hague & Partners is leading the Digital Softlanding Programme and responsible for Technology companies that want to expand their presence to the European market.

"Cyber Security is an important topic on the bilateral relationship between India and The Netherlands. As The Hague, the Cyber Security Centre of Europe, we can encourage the exchange of innovation between both countries and contribute to securing a safe digital environment by initiating this Digital Softlanding Programme on Cyber Security.’’

About the Trade Mission 

The trade mission, scheduled to take place from 10 till 14 September 2023 and will start in Bangalore. It will be leaded by Ingrid Thijssen, president of VNO-NCW and Demissionary Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

How to participate for Indian Technology Companies? 

Indian Cyber Security companies that want to apply for the Digital Softlanding Programme on Cyber Security please can find more info about the programme here. 

The Hague, the Cyber Security Centre of Europe

The Netherlands is currently the highest ranked EU country on the most powerful countries in Cyberspace ranking of secureworld.io, and ranks fifth globally. In response to ongoing digitisation, combined with increasing cyber threats, the Netherlands continues to strengthen its cybersecurity ecosystem which is centred around cluster organisation Security Delta (HSD), headquartered in The Hague. The Hague is the international City of Peace, Justice and Security. A city where organisations like Europol, European Cybercrime Centre, NATO Communications and Information Agency, and over 275 companies and other organisations are working on a better and safer (digital) world. HSD Campus in The Hague is the centrepoint of this ecosystem.

For more background information about The Hague and the Digital Soft Landing Programme click here. 

Photo From left to right: Marisa Gerards, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to India, Nepal and Bhutan. Anesh Kisoen, Business Advisor Digital Innovation & Country Specialist India for The Hague & Partners. (Demissionary) Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Ewout de Wit, Consul-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for South India in Bangalore