India’s growth story a source of confidence, new opportunities for world : PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Belgian counterpart Bart De Wever on Thursday agreed to expand cooperation in trade, defence, critical minerals, clean energy and emerging technologies as the two countries looked to deepen their strategic partnership.
In his media statement after wide-ranging talks with De Wever, Modi highlighted India's 7.8 per cent economic growth in the latest quarter, describing the country's growth story as a source of confidence and new opportunities for the world.
“Today, the world is going through a period of great upheaval. Conflicts continue to persist in many parts of the world. Whether it is food, fuel, or supply chains, every sector is being impacted by uncertainty,” Modi said.
He said India's economy had maintained its momentum despite global uncertainty and recorded 7.8 per cent growth in the last quarter.
Modi described defence and security cooperation between India and Belgium as a “key pillar” of bilateral ties. The two sides agreed to enhance military exchanges and training, while government and defence industry agreements would create opportunities for co-development and co-production, he said.
The prime minister also said India and Belgium would strengthen intelligence sharing and cooperation between their agencies to combat crime.
On technology and clean energy, Modi said both sides had agreed to increase cooperation in renewable energy, critical minerals and semiconductors.
“A clean energy future and reliable supply chain are our shared priorities. An MoU signed today on renewable energy will give new momentum to our sustainability cooperation,” he said.
The two countries will also cooperate more closely on the processing and recycling of critical minerals. Modi said Belgium's expertise in semiconductors and India's scale were complementary.
He said the two sides would strengthen links between start-ups, expand university and research cooperation and enhance capacity building in the maritime sector. India and Belgium will also soon conclude a Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement to facilitate talent mobility, he said.
On global conflicts, Modi said both countries supported dialogue and diplomacy for an early end to hostilities in Ukraine and West Asia. He also said India and Belgium were committed to eradicating every form of terrorism.
De Wever described the conclusion of the India-European Union free trade pact as a major milestone and said India and Belgium were building a relationship that was broader and more strategic than ever before.
His visit builds on the Belgian Economic Mission to India led by Princess Astrid in March last year, during which around 40 agreements were signed.
Belgium is an important economic partner for India in Europe. Bilateral trade reached USD 13.01 billion in 2025-26, with diamond trade remaining a significant component of commerce given Antwerp's position as a major global diamond hub.
Foreign direct investment inflows from Belgium into India stood at around USD 4.2 billion between April 2000 and December 2025.
The two countries also established a new ministerial-level strategic dialogue in July. The inaugural Belgium-India strategic dialogue was held in Brussels on July 15 and was co-chaired by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prevot.
Belgium's position as a major European maritime and logistics hub also offers opportunities for cooperation in ports, shipping and supply chains. Belgian company John Cockerill is building a 2 GW electrolyzer production facility in Kakinada as part of the expanding clean-energy partnership.
