India and Belgium held their third Foreign Office Consultations at the historic Egmont Palace, reaffirming their commitment to deepen diplomatic, trade, and technology partnerships.

Leading the dialogue, Secretary (West) Sibi George and Theodora Gentzis, President of Belgium’s Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, reviewed progress since Belgian Deputy PM Petra De Sutter’s visit to Delhi and EAM S. Jaishankar’s Brussels trip earlier this year — milestones that boosted bilateral trade beyond €10 billion.

Belgium announced that its foreign direct investment in India now exceeds €4 billion, spanning ports, pharmaceuticals, and diamonds, while Indian IT hubs in Antwerp and Ghent employ over 3,000 Europeans.

The two sides also charted cooperation in green hydrogen, semiconductors, and defence, including a joint naval exercise in the Arabian Sea set for 2026. Education took center stage with 30 new MoUs offering scholarships for 500 Indian STEM students at Flemish universities.

A key discussion point was the ongoing India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), with both nations supporting a “balanced and mutually beneficial” deal by spring 2026. Belgium pledged to advocate for India’s carbon-border adjustment concerns in Brussels.

Other global issues — including climate finance, UN reforms, and Red Sea trade disruptions — featured prominently in the talks. The session concluded with plans for quarterly virtual dialogues and a leaders’ summit in 2026, marking a new phase of India-Belgium cooperation.