India and Belgium Strengthen Bilateral Relations at Third Foreign Office Consultations in Brussels
India and Belgium held their third Foreign Office Consultations in Brussels, affirming commitments to deepen cooperation in trade, investment, technology, defence, renewable energy, and education. Key discussions included expanding partnerships in green hydrogen, semiconductors, defence exercises planned for 2026, and student exchanges under new MoUs. They emphasized advancing a balanced India-EU Free Trade Agreement by spring 2026 and agreed on future dialogues and a leaders’ summit.
The third India-Belgium Foreign Office Consultations took place in Brussels, co-chaired by India's Secretary (West) Sibi George and Belgium's Foreign Affairs Board President Theodora Gentzis. The diplomatic session reflected on recent high-level visits, including Belgium's Princess Astrid’s economic mission to India and visits by senior political leaders from both sides, which have boosted bilateral trade past ten billion euros. Belgium’s foreign direct investment in sectors such as ports, pharmaceuticals, and diamonds in India totals over four billion euros, while Indian IT campuses provide employment to thousands in Belgium. The talks prioritized new cooperation avenues in green hydrogen, leveraging Belgium’s Zeebrugge expertise alongside India's Gujarat hubs, semiconductor training by IMEC in Leuven, and joint defence exercises planned for the Arabian Sea in 2026. Education was a highlight, with thirty MoUs facilitating 500 Indian STEM scholars' tuition-funded studies at Flemish universities. The consultations underscored the importance of progressing a comprehensive, balanced, and mutually beneficial India-EU Free Trade Agreement by spring 2026, with Belgium advocating for India's concerns on carbon border measures within the EU. Broader collaboration on multilateral issues like G20 climate finance, UN Security Council reform, and easing Red Sea shipping delays was also discussed. Both parties committed to quarterly virtual talks and a 2026 leaders’ summit, setting a roadmap for stronger economic, technological, and cultural ties amid India's expanding infrastructure and educational engagement with Belgium and the EU.
