On 2nd March 2025, a Belgian delegation made their way to India on a significant economic mission, underscoring the robust bilateral ties between the two countries. The mission is being led by Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid along with corporate delegates and senior government officials. It is set to conclude on 8th March 2025. According to Didier Vanderhasselt, the Belgian Ambassador to India, “It is the highest format that we have on the Belgian side, led by H.H. Princess Astrid as the representative of the king. Our new Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is also our Deputy Prime Minister, and other ministers will also be accompanying the delegation of 335 members and 180 companies.”
The visit is aimed at bolstering economic, technological, and strategic cooperation between India and Belgium, reflecting a shared interest in mutual areas of growth. The Princess is representing His Majesty the King of Belgium, King Philippe. She is visiting New Delhi and Mumbai for their economic and strategic importance in India. Upon arrival, she was welcomed by the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal.
The delegation made a site visit to the Agristo Masa factory in Uttar Pradesh, a joint venture between Agristo NV of Belgium and Masa Global Foods of India, where they inaugurated the new line of production that will be distributed in India and its neighbouring countries. The expansion plan witnessed an investment of INR 750 crores. Following that, Princess Astrid attended conferences on water and waste management, decarbonisation of the steel industry, and women’s entrepreneurship.
Minister of External Affairs Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar held a meeting with Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot before his meeting with Princess Astrid. The discussions highlighted several thematic areas including technology, defence, trade, investment, clean energy, agriculture, skill development, innovation, academic exchanges, and cultural cooperation. Both leaders emphasized the need to expand collaboration on emerging sectors like artificial intelligence (AI), clean energy, research and innovation, and semiconductors, to enhance economic resilience and foster innovation-driven growth. In that regard, Minister Jaishankar emphasised the relevance and importance of ‘making in India’, ‘designing in India’, ‘researching in India’, and ‘innovating in India’.
The mission is highly focused on defence cooperation as well. On 3rd March, India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met with Princess Astrid and the Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken in New Delhi. They explored potential maritime collaboration in the Indo-pacific region and talked about strengthening defence industrial cooperation between the two nations. Minister Singh expressed his enthusiasm in welcoming Belgian investments in India’s defence sector and integrating Indian vendors into their supply chains. Minister Francken highlighted the need for a systematic framework for defence collaboration, thereby proposing to appoint a military attaché at the Belgian Embassy in India who will act as a point of contact for the Indian Army and key defence players. Both countries plan to develop task forces to cooperate within their armed forces and finalise a defence agreement by the end of the year.
The Belgian delegation professed their interest in India’s “Make in India” initiative with the aim of participating in defence manufacturing projects. Belgium’s technological expertise, paired with India’s manufacturing capabilities can bring about advanced defence systems, consequently enhancing the defence industrial bases of both countries. Minister Francken mentioned the Belgian defence firm John Cockerill Defence in this context, highlighting its participation with the Indian Army to acquire 350 light tanks that have a major advantage in difficult, high-altitude terrains. They announced a joint venture with Electro Pneumatics & Hydraulics Pvt Ltd (EPHL), an Indian firm specialising in defence technology. Belgian defence giant Thales Belgium have signed an agreement to supply 70mm rocket systems for helicopters in the Indian Army.
This pivotal visit finds further importance due to the meeting between Princess Astrid and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 4th March. Minister Prévot, Minister Francken, and Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele also took part in the discussions. PM Modi expressed his admiration at the 300-people strong Belgian delegation. Key areas of deliberation included diamond trade, space developments, and facilitating the mobility of highly skilled Indian workers to Belgium. Another focal aspect was green energy, which Minister Prévot called a “crucial development” for both the countries’ respective policies.
All in all, the recent meetings between the two parties signified a growing relationship between India and Belgium, specifically when it comes to defence and technology. Both nations are committed to expanding their partnership through improved cooperation, industrial collaboration, and common security objectives. The high-level engagements and seminars between key organisations stand testimony to the evolving bilateral ties and a shared vision for the future.
