Prime Minister of Belgium Bart De Wever, will arrive in New Delhi a short while from now on a three day visit to India. Prime Minister De Wever is being accompanied by Belgian Minister of Defence, Theo Francken. This will be Prime Minister De Wever’s first visit to India since taking office in February last year. He will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow to discuss the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, as well as regional and global issues of mutual interest.
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. Our 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.
This is the first visit by a Belgian Prime Minister to India in two decades marking a significant new phase in India-Belgium relations. The visit reflects the continued momentum of high-level exchanges between India and Belgium. It will also reinforce Belgium’s important role in strengthening India-EU relations. 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. The Belgian Prime Minister is also scheduled to visit Mumbai on 4th September, highlighting the strong economic foundations of the partnership. His planned visit to the Bharat Diamond Bourse underscores the importance of the diamond trade in bilateral relations and opportunities for further cooperation in the sector. The presence of Belgium’s Minister of Defence and Foreign Trade, along with a delegation of Belgian defence industries, will provide an opportunity to advance cooperation between Indian and Belgian defence industrial ecosystems.
