Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the Netherlands on Friday (May 15) on the second leg of his five-nation tour and his visit to the European nation is seen as crucial for India’s semiconductor journey.

During his visit to the Netherlands, Modi will further deepen bilateral cooperation in areas such as trade, technology, defence and renewable energy.

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The Minister of External Affairs’ (MEA) officials said the visit carries a “rich and substantive agenda” and is expected to consolidate the strategic dimensions of the partnership that have emerged through sustained engagement between the two countries.

Modi’s visit to Veldhoven

India and the Netherlands have significantly expanded cooperation in recent years beyond traditional sectors such as trade, investment and the priority areas of water, agriculture and health.

The partnership has grown in strategic sectors, including technology, innovation, defence, security, semiconductors, renewable energy, education and the maritime domain, the MEA said.

Modi is set to visit Veldhoven, and it is a significant trip as one company holds the key to India’s semiconductor project.

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ASML, a multinational company headquartered in Veldhoven, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of chip-making equipment. It designs and manufactures the lithography machines that are an essential component in chip manufacturing. ASML enables practically every chip manufactured in the world. Lithography systems serve as the foundation, using light to print intricate patterns on silicon wafers with nanometer precision.

Modi will interact with the top executives of ASML, according to a report in Economic Times.

“The meetings will highlight a critical reality for India. Its multi-billion-dollar dream of becoming a global chip manufacturing superpower is fundamentally tethered to the goodwill and supply chains of this single Dutch enterprise. Without ASML, the mega-fabs currently breaking ground on Indian soil cannot produce most semiconductors,” the report said.

ASML’s commitment to India

Last year, ASML, a global leader in semiconductor lithography, attended SEMICON India 2025 for the first time, emphasising its commitment to supporting India’s growing semiconductor industry. Its entire senior leadership team participated in SEMICON India, where they expressed a strong interest in becoming a partner in India’s semiconductor journey.

The company showcased its holistic lithography portfolio, which integrates lithography systems, computational software, metrology, and inspection solutions.

India’s semiconductor market projection

“India’s semiconductor market is projected to exceed USD 55 billion by 2026 and USD 100 billion by 2030, fuelled by strong demand in smartphones, automotive, and 5G IoT, alongside strong government support. ASML’s advanced lithography technologies are well-positioned to help Indian chipmakers produce smaller, more powerful chips while improving yield and performance, enabling cost-effective, high-volume production,” the company said last year after attending SEMICON India.

Christophe Fouquet, President and CEO of ASML, said at SEMICON India: “India has been showing progress in developing its ambitions in the semiconductor industry with investments, a strong talent pool and clear support from the government. We welcome India’s vision as it will strengthen the global industry. ASML is participating in SEMICON India for the first time. We look forward to learning more about India’s semiconductor industry, establishing new relationships and preparing opportunities.”

Emerging fabs in India could leverage holistic lithography for smoother capacity ramps and access to scalable, future-proof technologies that enable innovation and competitiveness, ASML said.

Vaishnaw’s visit to ASML

In January this year, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw visit ASML in Veldhoven. He emphasised that ASML coming to India would be a significant development.

Speaking during the visit, the Minister stated that India has initiated a new semiconductor industry and that lithography, which involves printing circuits on wafers, is the most complex and precision-intensive process in the entire semiconductor manufacturing chain.

The minister informed that ASML is the world’s leading provider of lithographic tools and added that ASML enables practically every chip manufactured in the world. “Our fab (fabrication plant) in Dholera will be using ASML equipment. So I have come here to visit and understand their technology,” Vaishnaw said.