Published: 12:22 AM, 06 September 2026
India, Belgium agree to boost trade, defence ties
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, Sept 3, 2026. -Reuters
India and Belgium agreed on Thursday to strengthen ties in areas including trade and defence, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Belgian counterpart Bart de Wever said. De Wever held talks with Modi in India, Reuters reports.
* "Today, during the talks with PM Bart de Wever, we agreed to deepen cooperation across trade, defence, clean energy, critical minerals, semiconductors, research and talent mobility," wrote Modi on X.
* "We have also established an Investment Fast-Track Mechanism for Belgian companies and will work towards doubling bilateral trade over the next five years," Modi added.
* India and the broader European Union struck a long delayed deal in January that will cut tariffs on most goods, aiming to boost two-way trade and reduce their reliance on the US amid growing global ?trade tensions.
* European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in June that the EU/India trade deal would be ?formally signed by the end of 2026.
* Data published on Aug 31 showed that ?India's economy - the third-biggest in Asia - expanded 7.8 percent year on year in the April-June quarter, beating forecasts.
