India, Belgium Target Doubling Trade in Five Years
India and Belgium have agreed to significantly expand cooperation across defence, clean energy, critical minerals and advanced technologies while setting a target to double bilateral trade over the next five years. The agreements followed talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever in New Delhi.
India, Belgium Target Doubling Trade in Five Years
Bilateral trade between India and Belgium reached about $13.01 billion in 2025-26, with diamonds remaining an important component of commercial ties.
The two countries will establish an Investment Fast-Track Mechanism to encourage Belgian investment in India and make the India-Belgium Business Forum a regular engagement platform.
Belgium has invested approximately $4.2 billion in India between April 2000 and December 2025.
Defence Cooperation Expands Into Co-Development
Defence emerged as a major focus of the talks, with both sides agreeing to increase military exchanges, training and defence research cooperation.
India and Belgium also signed agreements aimed at promoting defence co-development, co-production and technology partnerships between companies from both countries.
Belgium will additionally appoint a defence attaché at its embassy in New Delhi, strengthening institutional military engagement.
Clean Energy and Critical Minerals in Focus
The two countries signed an agreement on renewable energy cooperation covering areas including green hydrogen, solar power, energy storage and offshore wind.
They also agreed to expand cooperation in the processing and recycling of critical minerals and explore greater collaboration in semiconductors, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
Belgian engineering company John Cockerill is already developing a 2 GW electrolyser manufacturing facility in Kakinada.
Modi and De Wever also backed deeper cooperation in ports, logistics, research, universities and talent mobility, while supporting dialogue and diplomacy to address conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia.
