Belgian PM arrives in India for 3-day official visit

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever made an official visit to India from September 2 to 4, aiming to bolster bilateral relations and expand cooperation in various sectors. The visit, initiated by an invitation from India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, focuses on enhancing ties in trade, investment, defense, technology, and connectivity.

The MEA announced his arrival, noting the visit's potential to further strengthen the multifaceted partnership between India and Belgium. De Wever was welcomed by Sanjay Seth, the Minister of State for Defence.

De Wever, who assumed office in February 2025, was making his first official visit to India as Belgian Prime Minister. This visit also marked the first trip by a Belgian Prime Minister to India in two decades. Accompanied by Belgium's Minister of Defence and Foreign Trade, Theo Francken, and a high-level delegation, including defense industry representatives, De Wever held bilateral talks with Modi on September 3.

The discussions are expected to cover various aspects of bilateral relations and regional-global issues of mutual interest.

During his stay, De Wever is set to deliver a keynote address at a Confederation of Indian Industry event, in the context of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement. Following his engagements in New Delhi, he will visit Mumbai, where he will interact with stakeholders from sectors such as diamonds, ports, and logistics. The visit coincides with heightened momentum in India-Belgium relations, following a Belgian Economic Mission to India in March 2025, which resulted in 38 Memorandums of Understanding.

Additionally, the inaugural India-Belgium Ministerial-level Strategic Dialogue held in Brussels in July 2026 served as an institutional framework for advancing bilateral cooperation and discussing regional and global issues. India and Belgium have a long-standing historical relationship, with diplomatic ties established between the two nations in 1947.

Belgium is a significant economic partner for India, with bilateral trade reaching USD 13.01 billion in 2025-26, and a major source of investment, with FDI inflows totaling approximately USD 4.2 billion between 2000 and 2025.

Cooperation in defense, technology, renewable energy, connectivity, ports, and maritime sectors is also a key focus. Science and technology collaboration includes the construction of a large liquid mirror telescope in Nainital. The visit aims to further deepen defense cooperation, with high-level representation from Belgian defense industries.

Both countries support India's bid for a permanent seat in the reformed UN Security Council and have strong education ties, with around 1,131 Indian students studying in Belgium. Cultural ties are also significant, with Indian culture, including yoga, music, and dance, popular in Belgium.