Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever Promotes Trade Ties and FTA During India Visit

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever visited Mumbai on September 4, 2026, for a high level dialogue on the India European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA). During the event, De Wever pitched the Port of Antwerp Bruges as a primary logistics gateway for Indian exports to Europe, highlighting opportunities in pharmaceuticals, food processing, green hydrogen, and maritime services. He noted that the FTA is expected to reduce or eliminate tariffs on more than 95 percent of Indian and European goods exports. To further these ties, De Wever announced that a delegation from the Port of Antwerp Bruges will visit India in February 2027 to finalize concrete projects.

During his remarks, De Wever criticized the rise of protectionism and arbitrary trade barriers. He described a pattern where some entities decide on tariffs on Monday, revoke them on Wednesday, and reinstall them on Saturday, which he argued inflicts economic damage and turns trading partners into vassals. While center and center left reports focused on his general criticism of arbitrary tariffs, a center right report framed these comments as a veiled dig specifically targeting US President Donald Trump and China, noting that De Wever drew laughter and applause from the audience when implying they knew who he was referring to.

Indian officials also emphasized bilateral growth. Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal invited Belgian investment in India, citing the combination of Belgian innovation and India's scale. Goyal specifically proposed deeper cooperation in the lab grown diamond sector, suggesting a partnership between Antwerp, Mumbai, and Surat. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis added that he wants Belgium to be central to the state's goal of becoming a 1 trillion dollar economy by 2030.