{
  "id": 5579446,
  "title": "Maharashtra pitches for Belgium investments",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/maharashtra-pitches-for-belgium-investments",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-04T14:47:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times - Economy",
    "slug": "the-economic-times-economy",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/maharashtra-pitches-for-belgium-investments/articleshow/133767345.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Mumbai: Maharashtra's chief minister Devendra Fadnavis aggressively promoted the idea of Belgian investments into Maharashtra, aiming to capitalize on the free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union (EU). Addressing a gathering of Belgian and Indian businessmen, Fadnavis suggested that Belgian firms interested in investing in India should consider Maharashtra as their base. He emphasized that while Belgium has invested $4.2 billion in India since 2000, this figure is insufficient given the country's size. Fadnavis urged Maharashtra to become the demonstration state for India-EU partnership, promising to provide assistance and nominate a team for investments in the state. He outlined six industries for collaboration: advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, clean energy, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, ports, and diamonds. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted the potential of the India-EU trade deal to double bilateral trade by 2032, from the current $140 billion. Goyal praised Maharashtra as an inviting place for business, boasting strong financial and commercial hubs and being the fastest-growing economy in the country. Meanwhile, Belgium's Prime Minister Bart De Wever endorsed the FTA, calling for the elimination of tariffs on over 95% of Indian and European goods, particularly in the port of Antwerp, which exports 80% of its GDP annually.",
  "summary": "Maharashtra's Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis invited Belgian companies to explore investment opportunities within the state, positioning the state as an essential hub for engaging with global markets. With the India-EU free trade agreement poised to enhance trade relations significantly, Belgium's Prime Minister Bart De Wever echoed the sentiment.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}