Belgium’s Princess Astrid to lead economic mission to India
A high-level Belgian delegation led by Princess Astrid, a member of the ruling monarch’s family, will be in India for a week, starting Friday, to strengthen trade ties. The Ministry of External Affairs announced that the visit will take place from February 28 to March 8.
While Belgium’s trade with India has traditionally been dominated by the diamond sector, this visit will prioritise other industries, including pharmaceuticals, logistics, aerospace and renewable energy.
Belgium’s Ambassador to India, Didier Vanderhasselt, said on Thursday, “10 per cent of India-EU trade is with Belgium.” India currently ranks 18th among Belgium’s export destinations. Around 200 Belgian companies are operating in India.
Princess Astrid’s delegation will be accompanied by a major economic mission comprising representatives from 37 companies and four official organisations. Brussels aims to deepen its economic engagement with India, a rapidly growing and strategically important market.
The delegation will visit Delhi and Mumbai, holding meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and key industry players, including Agristo, DEME and John Cockerill.
Building on the momentum of 2024, when seven Indian companies established operations in Brussels, the mission will also explore new investment opportunities.
The delegation includes representatives from 36 Brussels-based companies, with 61 participants, 30 per cent of whom are women.
On March 5, the India-Belgium Tech Forum will focus on strengthening technological partnerships, featuring contributions from ‘Route Mobile Limited’ and ‘Proximus’.
