Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal arrived in Brussels, the capital of Belgium, yesterday, after concluding his visit to Spain. The Union Minister is carrying a high-level Indian business delegation to strengthen India’s economic partnerships with Europe, with a focus on trade, investment, technology, innovation and sustainability.

 

Mr Goyal met Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Employment, Economy, and Agriculture of Belgium, David Clarinval, and discussed expanding India-Belgium cooperation across trade, investment, technology, logistics and workforce mobility. Both the leaders exchanged views on the transformative potential of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement and reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening economic ties for the mutual benefit of our businesses and people. 

 

Mr Goyal also met EU Commissioner for Climate, Net-Zero and Clean Growth, Wopke Hoekstra, and exchanged views on strengthening India-EU cooperation in clean growth, climate action and sustainable industrial development. Both discussed the expanding collaboration in renewable energy, green hydrogen, clean technologies, innovation, investments and resilient value chains to support the shared net-zero ambitions.

 

Moreover, Mr Goyal met European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen in Brussels. Both the leaders discussed avenues to further deepen agricultural partnership by strengthening resilient agri-food value chains, enhancing food security, supporting farmers and promoting sustainable growth, building on the successful conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement.

 

Earlier, Mr Goyal held a meeting with Thomas Colinet, MD, and Bruno Lété, Director of Public Affairs at Thales Belgium. He appreciated the company’s longstanding operations in India, including manufacturing for global markets, technology partnerships and skill development.

 

In a social media post, he said that both discussed opportunities to further strengthen collaboration and encouraged the company to further expand its manufacturing footprint in India, aligned with the vision of ‘Make in India, Make for the World’.