Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Belgium, Bart De Wever, will hold bilateral talks in New Delhi today. Both leaders will discuss the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, as well as regional and global issues of mutual interest.
The Belgian Prime Minister arrived in the national capital last night on a three-day visit to India.
Belgian Minister of Defence Theo Francken is accompanying Prime Minister De Wever. This is his first visit to India since taking office in February last year. The visiting dignitary will also deliver a keynote address at a Confederation of Indian Industry business event, in the context of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement.
Akashvani correspondent reports that the visit will provide an opportunity to further strengthen the India-Belgium partnership and advance cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including trade and investment, defence and security, and renewable energy.
India and Belgium share historical ties spanning over three centuries. Belgium was among the first European countries to establish diplomatic relations with independent India in September 1947.
Belgium is an important economic partner for India in Europe. Bilateral trade reached over 13 billion dollars in 2025-26.
Diamond trade, with Antwerp as a major global diamond hub, remains a significant component of bilateral commerce. Belgium is also an important source of investment in India.
FDI inflows from Belgium amounted to approximately 4.2 billion dollars between April 2000 and December 2025. Science, technology and Innovation cooperation is an important pillar of the partnership and India and Belgium have developed cooperation in renewable energy, clean technologies and sustainability.
Defence cooperation is also emerging as an important new dimension of the partnership, reflecting the diversification of bilateral ties into strategic and security-related areas.
Belgium’s appointment of a Defence Attaché in New Delhi reflects this intent of deepening cooperation in defence.
The Indian diaspora is an important bridge between the two countries, with around 35 thousand people of Indian origin in Belgium, contributing substantially to economic, social and cultural life in that country.
