Bettel praises India’s delivery-oriented approach
Luxembourg Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel on Monday praised India’s efficiency and leadership, saying he values the country’s ability to translate commitments into action. During his official visit to New Delhi, Bettel also expressed appreciation for his relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and highlighted the importance of maintaining trusted and honest ties between the two countries.
Bettel said one of the things he likes about Prime Minister Modi is that when he makes a commitment, it is followed by action. His remarks came during his interaction with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, as the two sides discussed ways to expand India-Luxembourg cooperation across economic and strategic sectors.
‘When you say something, you do it’
Referring to his previous association with Modi, Bettel said he had been fortunate to have good relations with the Indian Prime Minister even when he was serving as Luxembourg’s Prime Minister.
He praised India’s leadership for what he described as efficiency in delivering on political commitments. Bettel also underlined the importance of democratic values and said he wanted to thank Indian leadership for its approach.
The comments come at a time when India and Luxembourg are seeking to widen bilateral cooperation beyond traditional diplomatic engagement, with trade, investment, finance, technology and other emerging sectors increasingly becoming part of the relationship.
Focus on trusted India-Luxembourg ties
Bettel stressed the importance of maintaining a relationship based on trust and honesty. His three-day India visit, from September 7 to 9, is aimed at strengthening bilateral engagement and exploring new areas of cooperation.
Earlier on Monday, Jaishankar and Bettel discussed trade, investment and financial cooperation, while also identifying space, digital technologies, green technologies and health as areas with further potential.
The discussions reflect the expanding scope of India-Luxembourg relations, particularly as both sides look at economic and technology partnerships alongside political ties.
Cooperation extends to technology and space
India and Luxembourg have been building cooperation in sectors including fintech, green finance, space applications, digital innovation and startups. Their engagement in these areas has gained importance as both countries look to connect investment opportunities with emerging technologies.
Bettel’s current visit is expected to provide another opportunity to advance these areas, while also strengthening the economic component of the bilateral relationship.
His visit also comes against the backdrop of India’s growing engagement with European countries on trade, investment and technology. Recent India-Europe discussions have increasingly focused on supply-chain resilience, clean technologies and investment facilitation.
Bettel to travel to Chennai
After his New Delhi engagements, Bettel is scheduled to travel to Chennai as part of the official visit. His programme includes engagements at IIT Madras and its Research Park, as well as the inauguration of a new SES campus.
The Chennai leg is expected to add a technology and research dimension to the visit, complementing the political and economic discussions held in the national capital.
Broader European engagement
Bettel’s comments come amid a period of intensified India-Europe engagement. India has been seeking stronger partnerships with European economies in areas ranging from investment and technology to clean energy and critical supply chains.
For Luxembourg, a major European financial centre, deeper engagement with India also offers opportunities in financial services and investment. For New Delhi, stronger ties with Luxembourg contribute to its broader effort to expand economic and strategic partnerships across Europe.
Bettel’s praise for India’s ability to follow through on commitments therefore comes as the two countries work to translate their longstanding diplomatic relationship into wider cooperation in trade, finance, technology and innovation.
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