Belgian Prime Minister presents Port of Antwerp-Bruges as India’s trade gateway to Europe
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal meets Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges event in Mumbai on September 4, 2026. Photo: X/@MEAIndia via ANI
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever on Friday (September 4, 2026) unveiled Antwerp-Bruges port as a gateway for Indian exports to Europe. He is in Mumbai for high-level talks on the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
“The India-Belgium FTA would boost trade, create opportunities for businesses, young talent and investment and make the Indian and European economies more resilient to global disruptions. The Antwerp-Bruges port will be a key logistics link between India and Europe creating opportunities in diamonds, pharmaceuticals, food processing, maritime services, green hydrogen and infrastructure,” Mr De Wever said.
“The agreement is expected to eliminate or reduce tariffs on more than 95% of Indian and European exports of goods,” he added.
Bilateral trade between the two countries stood at around $13.08 billion in 2025-26.
“More and more voices are calling today to raise barriers, to close markets and introduce tariffs. Some do it completely arbitrarily. They decide something on Monday, withdraw it on Wednesday and reinstall it on Saturday. In doing so, they cause serious economic damage to their trading partners, make them dependent and turn them into vassals,” said Mr. De Wever.
“Invest in India”
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal urged Belgian companies to invest in India, saying Belgian technology, innovation and capital could be combined with India’s scale, talent and young workforce.
Mr. Goyal described Maharashtra as an attractive investment destination and highlighted its position as the financial, commercial and industrial hub of India.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said he wants Belgium to be central to the state’s growth towards a $1 trillion economy. “Our ambition is clear: to make Maharashtra a $1 trillion economy by 2030 and we want Belgium to be part of that journey,” Mr. Fadnavis said.
Mr Goyal said the trade deal, which has been discussed for about 25 years, would create opportunities for farmers, fishermen, small and medium enterprises, start-ups, women entrepreneurs, manufacturers and service providers across India and Europe.
“The India-EU FTA brings together about two billion people, representing about a quarter of global GDP, a third of world trade and a market of about $24 trillion,” Goyal said.
He said all 27 EU countries support completing the remaining formalities and bringing the agreement into force as soon as possible.
A diamond opportunity
On India-Belgium cooperation in the diamond sector, Mr Goyal said the two countries could deepen cooperation in the design and co-creation of gems and jewellery, including lab-grown diamonds, while working towards greater cooperation in technology and certification centered around Antwerp, Mumbai and Surat.
The diamond industries of India and Belgium have shared trade relations for over a century, with Antwerp serving as a major global diamond trading center and India playing a leading role in diamond cutting and polishing. India-Belgium trade in gems and jewelery will be around $3.5 billion in 2025-26, according to Gems and Jewelery Export Promotion Council chairman Kirit Bhansali.
Published – 04 Sep 2026 23:04 IST