Mumbai, Sept. 7 -- India and Belgium agreed to deepen their strategic partnership during Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever's first official visit to India since assuming office in February 2025, announcing measures to expand cooperation in defence, trade, investment, semiconductors, renewable energy, critical minerals, maritime security and people-to-people ties. The leaders recalled the sacrifice of more than 9,000 Indian soldiers in Flanders Fields and referred to the 80th anniversary of relations in 2027.
They welcomed the launch of an inaugural Strategic Dialogue in Brussels in July 2026 to advance cooperation on trade, green transition, technology, connectivity, defence and people-to-people ties. They reaffirmed the India-EU Strategic Partnership and noted the conclusion of India-EU Free Trade Agreement negotiations in January 2026 while urging early conclusion of investment protection and geographical indications agreements.
The prime ministers agreed to work towards doubling bilateral trade over the next five years and to launch an India-Belgium Investment Fast-Track Mechanism to facilitate investments and address business bottlenecks. They endorsed closer engagement between Belgium's SFPIM and India's National Investment and Infrastructure Fund to explore an Indo-Belgian economic corridor and highlighted sectors such as life sciences, energy, defence and digital technologies.
Defence and security were highlighted, with a Letter of Intent between defence ministries to enhance exchanges, training, research cooperation and defence-industrial partnerships. The leaders supported collaboration in defence manufacturing and agreed to explore a joint working group on counter-terrorism to address evolving threats, including terrorist financing and networks. A CBI-Federal Police memorandum will strengthen cooperation on transnational organised crime and cybercrime.
Cooperation was extended to renewable energy, green hydrogen, offshore wind and critical minerals, with emphasis on processing and recycling to build resilient supply chains. Closer ties were encouraged between Belgium's semiconductor research ecosystem including imec and Indian institutions. The two sides also agreed to deepen collaboration in higher education, skills mobility and port and maritime cooperation, and exchanged views on global conflicts while reaffirming commitment to diplomacy.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.