India more accessible than EU, says Dutch chip company

NEW DELHI: A senior executive from Dutch semiconductor machinery company ASML has said that EU is inaccessible to European companies, while it is getting time and patient hearing from the Indian govt.Speaking at a ‘Competitive Europe summit in Brussels’, organised by digital platform Politico, Frank Heemskerk, executive VP of global public affairs at ASML, said it is difficult to get sufficient access to top European policymakers, such as Commission President Ursula von der Leyen: “It’s not always easy” He further added, “It’s easier to get a meeting with a senior official in the White House than to get a meeting with a commissioner.”The Politico reported that the comment came after Heemskerk said ASML’s CEO Christophe Fouquet had a two-hour meeting with PM 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, adding that European policymakers would do well to take note of such exchanges. “The political leaders should sit down with the companies that are investing money.”