Modi meets Belgium PM in Delhi, lauds bilateral cooperation in key sectors; Wever calls India a ‘powerhouse’
Modi Meets Belgium PM in Delhi for Strategic Talks
Theindiapostdaily.com – Modi meets Belgium PM in Delhi as Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever stepped into the Indian capital on Thursday, marking the first time a Belgian head of government has set foot in India in two decades. The three-day visit arrives at a pivotal juncture: New Delhi has just sealed a Free Trade Agreement with the European Union, and bilateral pipelines between individual member states are now expected to translate that macro-level framework into tangible sector projects. The encounter signals a deliberate recalibration of India's European engagement architecture.
Hyderabad House Talks and the Defence–Energy Axis
Formal discussions took place at Hyderabad House, the capital's long-standing venue for state-level diplomacy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi received De Wever in what witnesses characterised as a notably warm reception, referencing a personal rapport that stretches back to Modi's own trip to Belgium roughly a decade ago. That earlier visit, Modi observed, provided a baseline against which the dramatic broadening of cooperation since then could be gauged.
The prime minister framed the meeting as proof that India–Belgium relations have outgrown conventional trade and cultural exchange. He singled out joint work on the Zorawar main battle tank, in which Belgian defence firms supply components and subsystems, and drew attention to the construction of what he described as one of the world's largest green ammonia plants at Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh.
"Today, the scope of our cooperation has expanded beyond traditional sectors to encompass strategic areas such as defence and clean energy. We are collaborating on modern defence equipment, such as the Zorawar tank. We are also developing one of the world's largest green ammonia projects in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh."
The Kakinada ammonia initiative carries outsized strategic weight. Ammonia serves as a critical feedstock for fertiliser manufacture and an emerging vector for hydrogen-based energy storage. Scaling up green ammonia — produced with renewable electricity rather than fossil-derived hydrogen — positions India to cut its reliance on imported natural gas while opening a new export corridor for clean-energy products. Belgian engineering and project-management expertise embedded in the Kakinada build-out ties European industrial know-how directly to India's stated ambition of becoming a global hub for green hydrogen and its derivatives by 2030.
Modi also invoked the shared wartime memory of thousands of Indian soldiers who served in Belgium during the First World War, describing their sacrifice as a vital strand in the two nations' collective history. He further recalled De Wever's earlier tenure as Mayor of Antwerp, where the port city has long functioned as a global diamond-trading hub, and acknowledged the Belgian leader's personal support for India's diamond exports and for the sizeable Indian diaspora settled in the Antwerp region during that municipal period.
"The ties between India and Belgium are deeply rooted in history. The courage and sacrifice of thousands of Indian soldiers in Belgium during the First World War remain a vital part of our shared memory. Today, democratic values, a market economy, and strong people-to-people ties make us natural partners."
De Wever's Verdict: India as a Global Powerhouse
On the joint press platform, De Wever delivered a pointed characterisation of India's two-decade trajectory. He called New Delhi a major global powerhouse whose voice now resonates well beyond South Asia, termed India an important ally for Belgium, and stressed the complementary character of the two economies. He positioned Belgium — a small, open economy of roughly 11 million people that has grown into the world's 25th-largest economy through trade and global market access — as a natural counterpart in pharmaceuticals, chemicals, semiconductors, and clean-energy technology.
"It is particularly meaningful to be here as the first Belgian Prime Minister in 20 years, and that's a very long time. It's too long. In those 20 years, India has changed enormously, and certainly during the period of the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. Today, you are not only the world's largest democracy, but also the fastest-growing major economy. It has become an economic and technological powerhouse and a major geopolitical factor whose voice carries way beyond this region."
The visit closes with both governments signalling intent to accelerate implementation of joint projects in defence manufacturing, renewable-energy infrastructure, and advanced materials. For New Delhi, the trip validates a strategy of deepening bilateral channels with individual EU member states alongside the broader Brussels-level trade architecture. For Brussels, it reopens a diplomatic lane that had lain dormant for two decades.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is De Wever's Delhi visit considered a diplomatic milestone?
It is the first visit by a Belgian prime minister to India in twenty years. The gap had left a vacuum in high-level bilateral engagement at a time when both countries sought to deepen cooperation in defence, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing. Closing that gap was a stated priority for both governments.
What specific projects were highlighted during the talks?
Two flagship initiatives were named: the Zorawar main battle tank programme, in which Belgian defence firms supply components and subsystems, and the green ammonia facility under construction at Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, described by Modi as one of the world's largest. Both projects sit at the intersection of defence capability and clean-energy transition.
How does the visit relate to India's EU Free Trade Agreement?
The FTA concluded earlier this year sets the macro-level trade framework between India and the European Union. Bilateral visits such as De Wever's are expected to operationalise that framework by identifying concrete sector projects, resolving implementation bottlenecks, and building the institutional trust needed for sustained cooperation beyond headline tariff reductions.
What role does the Antwerp diamond connection play in bilateral ties?
Antwerp remains one of the world's principal diamond-trading hubs and hosts a sizeable Indian diaspora community. De Wever's earlier tenure as Mayor of Antwerp created a personal channel through which he supported India's diamond exports and the local Indian community. Modi referenced that history as evidence of long-standing, people-to-people bonds that predate formal diplomatic structures.