Host Olympics, become world's growth engine: PM Modi's 4 ambitions for India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday laid out four big aspirations for India during his two-day visit to the Netherlands, saying the country's ambitions are no longer confined to its borders.

Addressing the Indian diaspora at an event in The Hague, Modi said India wants to host the Olympics, become a global manufacturing and green energy hub, and serve as an engine for the world's economic growth.

"Aspirations are unlimited in India and efforts are also becoming limitless," he said, pitching India's growth story to the gathering.

'MAKE IN INDIA'

Modi said India is taking steps towards becoming a major manufacturing hub, with the country's youth driving a modern technology and start-up ecosystem.

"Thanks to India's youth, who are doing remarkable work in AI, defence, and the space sector, our country is now the third-largest start-up ecosystem in the world," he said.

Turning to the AI revolution, Modi pitched India as a hub for semiconductor manufacturing and recalled what he described as the "most successful and biggest" AI Summit held in India earlier this year.

He said work on 12 semiconductor plants is currently underway, with production already begun at two of them. "In other words, now even chips will be 'Designed in India' and 'Made in India'," he said.

Modi also highlighted India's mobile phone manufacturing revolution, reiterating the country's position as the second-largest mobile phone manufacturer in the world. "A decade ago, we imported mobile phones. This has become another identity of today's India, which is an innovation power," he said.

'GREEN HUB, GROWTH ENGINE'

Modi also highlighted India's infrastructural growth under his tenure, with a focus on green energy. "The solar parks being built in India are among the largest in the world," he said, while adding that one of the aspirations of India is to become a global green power hub.

As per the government, solar energy installed capacity has increased 53.28 times since PM Modi took over in 2014 – from 2.82 GW in March 2014 to 150.26 GW in March 2026.

India recently climbed to the third position globally in installed renewable energy capacity, surpassing Brazil. India also recorded its highest-ever share of renewable energy in electricity generation in 2025, highlighting India’s growing progress in the clean energy sector.

Closely tied to his vision of a “green power revolution” was his call to strengthen global supply chains amid overlapping crises — from the COVID-19 pandemic to the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East — underscoring India’s emerging role as a driving force in the global economy.

"The world today is talking about resilient supply chains, and India and the Netherlands are working together to build a trusted and transparent supply chain," he said.

'CLOSER SPORTS TIES'

Reiterating India's ambitions to host the Olympics, presumably in 2036, PM Modi stressed greater sporting ties with the Netherlands, especially in cricket and hockey.

Recalling the recent performances of the Dutch cricket team, the Prime Minister said that the Indian community has made a major contribution to growing the sport in the Netherlands.

“India hosted the T20 World Cup, where the Netherlands delivered an impressive performance. While India emerged as world champions, the Netherlands gave them a tough fight,” he said.

In a similar vein, PM Modi recalled the key role played by the Dutch in strengthening India’s hockey capabilities, adding that sports should further deepen friendship between the two countries.

PM'S VISIT TO THE NETHERLANDS

Prime Minister Modi arrived in the Netherlands on Friday for a visit aimed at expanding India’s cooperation with the European nation in key sectors including technology, semiconductors, defence, renewable energy and trade.

During the visit, PM Modi held talks with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten and met King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima.

PM Modi’s Netherlands visit is part of his wider multi-nation tour that also includes Sweden, Norway and Italy.

The multi-nation tour is taking place amid growing momentum in India’s economic engagement with Europe following the India-EU Free Trade Agreement and the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement, signed earlier this year.