Modi, Belgian PM De Wever Target Doubling Trade, Deeper Defence Ties
· India · Hindustan Times, Indian Express
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Belgian PM Bart De Wever — the first Belgian premier to visit India in two decades — agreed on Thursday to step up cooperation in defence, semiconductors, advanced technology and law enforcement, and set a target of doubling bilateral trade over the next five years. Two-way trade currently stands at about $13 billion, with diamonds making up nearly 30% of that figure. Defence firms from both countries signed co-production agreements covering a wide range of military equipment, and both leaders committed to enhanced military exchanges, training cooperation and intelligence-sharing between agencies. The talks also covered collaboration in pharmaceuticals, chemicals, fintech, advanced manufacturing, ports, logistics and clean energy, with both sides seeking resilient supply chains to reduce dependency on China. Modi framed India and Belgium as natural partners anchored in democratic values and the market economy, citing food, fuel and supply-chain disrupti
Why it matters
A doubled trade target over five years opens new market access for Indian pharma, chemicals and tech exporters, while Belgian semiconductor expertise pairs with India's manufacturing scale to reduce supply-chain dependence on China. The defence co-production pacts give Indian firms direct entry into European military markets and signal deeper Indo-EU security alignment.
Read the original report — Hindustan Times
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