India on Wednesday welcomed Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, who arrived in New Delhi for a three-day visit in her capacity as the UN Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Financial Health. The Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted that the visit reflects the shared commitment to advancing financial inclusion, drawing on India's transformative experience in leveraging Digital Public Infrastructure for inclusive growth and sustainable development.
Queen Maxima Praises India's Digital Public Infrastructure
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Queen Maxima praised India's progress in financial inclusion and digital public infrastructure. "I am extremely happy to be back in India. I've been working a lot with India for a long time on financial inclusion. Now, it is about financial health, which is very important...You've done a wonderful job with digital public infrastructure. Now the issue is how to make and use this to improve the lives of the people," she said.
The Netherlands Embassy in India, Nepal and Bhutan posted on X that they welcomed Queen Maxima to India on her three-day visit to Mumbai and New Delhi.
Visit Focuses on Financial Health and Inclusion
According to the Royal House of the Netherlands' official press release, the visit, taking place from June 23 to June 25 at the invitation of the Government of India, focuses on advancing financial health and building on India's achievements in financial inclusion. In Mumbai, Queen Maxima met nurses and young professionals using digital financial platforms such as 'SalarySe' and 'Jupiter Money' to manage finances, save, and invest. She also participated in discussions on financial health challenges faced by women and rural communities, the role of artificial intelligence in providing personalised financial advice, and measures to prevent digital fraud and protect consumers.
Upcoming Events in New Delhi
According to the Official account of the Royal House of the Netherlands, in New Delhi on Thursday, Queen Maxima is scheduled to attend the 'Financial Health Demo Day' at the Gates Foundation, where Indian companies will showcase innovations aimed at improving financial health. She will also participate in discussions on responsible data sharing, AI-powered services for farmers, and pension solutions for workers in the informal sector. The visit is expected to conclude with a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during which Queen Maxima will share her observations and findings from the trip.
Queen Maxima's Fourth Visit to India
This is Queen Maxima's fourth visit to India in her UN advocacy role, following earlier visits in 2014, 2018, and 2022. The visit underscores the deepening partnership between India and the Netherlands in promoting financial inclusion and leveraging digital innovations for sustainable development.
