As part of its plan to expand trade network in Uttar Pradesh, Netherlands intends to set up a business desk in Lucknow.   A team of Netherlands Embassy officials, led by senior policy advisor Rima Yadav, was in Lucknow on Tuesday to discuss the issue with state

government officials. Yadav met with industrial and infrastructure investment commissioner Anil Kumar Gupta.

Gupta said the Netherlands team was preparing ground for the proposed visit of its ambassador to the state capital in November 2012.  The team apparently wanted to have feedback about the prevailing situation in the industry and the power sector in the state, he said. Earlier, Yadav also sent a letter to chief secretary Jawed Usmani stating the Netherlands Embassy’s wish to meet him and eventually set up a business desk in Lucknow.

“Netherlands Embassy is intending to set up base in Lucknow in cooperation with local chambers. It would further look for future areas of mutual economic interest between Netherlands and Uttar Pradesh,” the letter added.  Besides the Netherlands Embassy in New Delhi and a Consulate in Mumbai, the Netherlands has business support offices in Ahemdabad and Chennai to intensify its economic cooperation and expand trade network in India. It proposes to set up new offices in Bengaluru, Bhopal and Lucknow. Yadav said Netherlands was one of the most developed economies in the world and known as Gateway to Europe. It was the fifth biggest investor in India, she said.