India and Belgium sign memorandum of understanding for renewable energy cooperation | Today’s news
New Delhi: India and Belgium have signed an agreement to deepen cooperation in renewable energy and clean technologies, focusing on key sectors such as green hydrogen, offshore wind energy and critical mineral recycling. The agreement was finalized during a visit by Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever to Delhi, where both nations pledged to accelerate decarbonisation efforts and strengthen industrial supply chains.
The Belgian Prime Minister is on a three-day visit to India from Wednesday.
The framework builds on decades of bilateral climate dialogue and expands joint initiatives to include advanced energy storage, bioenergy and pumped water systems. At a joint press conference, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that reliable supply chains and the clean energy transition remain shared strategic priorities, pointing to growing joint ventures in green ammonia and defense manufacturing.
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The agreement focuses on the green hydrogen value chain – including production, transport, storage and industrial applications. Both governments highlighted existing partnerships between Indian entities, the Belgian Hydrogen Council and Flanders Investment & Trade as plans to increase technology transfers and mutual trade.
Beyond clean energy, the pact aligns with broader diplomatic and environmental goals, including commitments to climate adaptation, ocean protection and international finance for developing countries. The deal reflects India’s strategy to use European technology and capital to meet growing energy demand while advancing its long-term net-zero goals.
Modi said the scope of cooperation has expanded beyond traditional sectors to strategic areas such as defense and clean energy. “We are working together on advanced defense equipment like the Zorawar tank. We are developing one of the world’s largest green ammonia projects in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh,” he said.
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The MEA statement said both countries reaffirmed their commitment to the Paris Agreement, its long-term goals, including the temperature target, and its principles, including equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, taking into account their different national conditions.
“They are supporting the successful COP31 (31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) which is advancing implementation and leading to strengthened action on the ground,” it said.
Experts said cooperation on clean energy would help both the energy transition and energy security.
India’s twin priorities of climate change and energy security require access to clean energy and technology partnerships, so a deeper role for Belgium is a welcome step, said Sankalp Gurjar, assistant professor of geopolitics at the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE) in Pune. “It will help India achieve the twin goals of transitioning to cleaner energy and ensuring energy security,” he said.
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Stronger climate action in developing countries depends on available finance, clean technology transfer and global cooperation, says a joint statement from India and Belgium.
According to the MEA, the two countries committed to greater climate resilience, disaster preparedness and ocean governance, highlighting the agreement on biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction and global cooperation.
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