NEW DELHI, Oct 2 : Dutch giant ASML praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his openness with business leaders while highlighting a recent talk of CEO Christophe Fouquet with PM Modi.
Speaking at POLITICO Competitive Europe Business Summit in Brussels, Frank Heemskerk, executive vice president of global public affairs at ASML, said India offered a sharp contrast to Europe.
Heemskerk highlighted that it’s not always easy to reach European leaders for industry talks.
On the other hand, he recalled how the company’s CEO, Christophe Fouquet, recently had a two-hour meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “After an hour and a half of listening, he (Modi) said, ‘You’re too friendly, tell me what we can do better,’” Heemskerk said, calling it a rare example of a leader directly seeking feedback from industry.
ASML is a Dutch multinational corporation that specializes in the development and manufacturing of photo lithography machines which are used to produce integrated circuits.
As of 2023, it is the largest supplier for the semiconductor industry and the role supplier in the world of extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) photo lithography machines that are required to manufacture the most advanced chips.
At the summit, when Frank Heemskerk was asked whether the company had enough access to senior European policymakers such as Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, his reply underlined the frustration felt by many business leaders. “It’s not always easy,” he said.
Quoting a former ASML colleague, he added: “It’s easier to get a meeting in the White House with a senior official than to get a meeting with a commissioner.”
By drawing sharp comparisons between the openness of leaders in India and the inaccessibility of policymakers in Brussels, ASML’s message was clear: if Europe wants to compete globally, it must engage more directly with the companies at the heart of its industrial future.
The comments highlight concerns that while Europe talks about strengthening its industrial base and achieving technological sovereignty, its political institutions remain difficult for even its own champions to reach.
Heemskerk also pointed to ASML’s recent ?1.3 billion partnership with French artificial intelligence company Mistral as an example of how European firms can work together to strengthen the continent’s technological edge.
The deal with Mistral has been hailed as a boost for Europe’s efforts to build sovereignty in both semiconductors and AI — two fields that are increasingly intertwined and strategically vital.
(UNI)
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