Belgian PM in India, to discuss deepening of ties in diamond, clean energy sectors
New Delhi, Sept 3: Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever arrived here this morning on a three-day visit during which focus will be on exploring ways to deepen ties in sectors like diamond trade, clean energy, maritime and defence.
During the visit, the two sides are also expected to discuss ways to leverage the Free Trade Agreement between India and the 27-nation European Union (EU), of which Belgium is a member.
Wever will hold substantive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi and visit Mumbai on Friday, where his itinerary includes a visit to the Bharat Diamond Bourse.
Officials said the visit will provide an opportunity to translate the recent momentum in bilateral relations into concrete outcomes and take the relationship from established economic cooperation towards a broader strategic partnership.
Discussions will focus on trade and investment, defence and security, technology and innovation, connectivity, ports and maritime cooperation, and reinforce Belgium’s important role in strengthening India-European Union relations, officials said.
The Belgian PM will India-Belgium bilateral trade reached $13.01 billion in 2025-26, up from $8.8 billion in 2024-25.
Diamond trade remains a significant component of India-Belgium bilateral commerce, and the two sides are exploring opportunities for further cooperation in the sector.
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Antwerp in Belgium is the global hub for diamond trade, including for India.
Belgium is also an important source of investment in India, with foreign direct investment inflows from Belgium amounting to nearly $4.2 billion between April 2000 and December 2025.
In July 2026, India and Belgium established a new ministerial-level strategic dialogue. Its inaugural edition was held in Brussels on July 15.
As part of bilateral science, technology and innovation cooperation, one of the world’s largest liquid mirror telescopes was inaugurated at the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences, or ARIES, Nainital, built with the involvement of Belgian space company Advanced Mechanical and Optical Systems, or AMOS, in March 2023.
Belgian company John Cockerill is building one of the largest electrolyser production facilities in the world in Kakinada, with an expected capacity of 2 GW.
Belgium, a major European maritime and logistics hub, provides Indian companies opportunities for cooperation in ports, shipping and supply chains, and also trains Indian port officials. Defence cooperation is also on the anvil, with Belgium appointing a Defence Attaché in New Delhi.
In the education sector, Indian and Belgian universities, including institutions such as KU Leuven, Ghent University, University of Antwerp, Hasselt University and Vrije Universiteit Brussel, have established academic partnerships with Indian institutions. There are 1,311 Indian students in Belgium.
