At a Mumbai event on the India‑EU Free Trade Agreement, Belgium’s prime minister promoted the Port of Antwerp‑Bruges for logistics and sector ties while Indian ministers pitched investment opportunities in Maharashtra and deeper cooperation on diamonds and technology.
India and Belgium view the India‑EU FTA as a major enabler: officials said it would cut or eliminate tariffs on more than 95% of goods and link markets representing about two billion people and roughly $24 trillion.
Indian commerce minister Piyush Goyal and Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis publicly invited Belgian investment, framing Maharashtra as a target for technology, innovation and capital.
# What happened Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever used a high‑level India‑EU Free Trade Agreement dialogue in Mumbai to pitch the Port of Antwerp‑Bruges as a primary logistics link for Indian exports to Europe. Indian officials — including Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis — responded by inviting Belgian investment, with an emphasis on Maharashtra's role as India's commercial and industrial hub.
# Why the port matters to both sides De Wever framed Antwerp‑Bruges as more than a shipping hub: he positioned it as an access point for sectoral cooperation and trade flows into Europe. He named concrete sectors where the port could support bilateral business: diamonds, pharmaceuticals, food processing, maritime services, green hydrogen and infrastructure. The Port's role would be to serve as the logistics node linking Indian production and European markets.
# The trade context Officials described the India‑EU FTA as transformative for commerce between the two blocs. They said the deal is expected to remove or reduce tariffs on over 95% of goods traded between India and Europe. The FTA covers a market of roughly two billion people and a combined market value cited at about $24 trillion. India‑Belgium bilateral trade stood at about $13.08 billion for 2025–26.
# Investment pitch and regional ambitions Piyush Goyal invited Belgian businesses to combine Belgian technology and capital with Indian scale and talent. He highlighted opportunities for farmers, fishermen, MSMEs, startups, women entrepreneurs, manufacturers and service providers under the FTA framework. Devendra Fadnavis framed Maharashtra as a priority location for Belgian investment and said he wants Belgium to contribute to Maharashtra's stated goal of becoming a $1‑trillion economy by 2030.
# Diamonds and related value chains India and Belgium have long commercial links in gems and jewellery. The two governments flagged deeper cooperation in design, co‑creation, lab‑grown diamonds, and technology and certification around trading and processing hubs such as Antwerp, Mumbai and Surat. The gems and jewellery trade between India and Belgium was cited at roughly $3.5 billion in 2025–26.
# Political and economic framing De Wever contrasted the trade‑opening agenda with protectionist moves elsewhere, warning that arbitrary tariff changes and market closures inflict economic harm and dependency. Indian officials emphasized that completing the remaining formalities on the India‑EU FTA was a shared priority and said all 27 EU countries support moving the agreement into force.
# What to watch next
# Bottom line Belgium is promoting a direct logistics route for India into Europe via the Port of Antwerp‑Bruges while both sides highlight the India‑EU FTA as the structural framework to expand trade, investment and sectoral cooperation. India's trade and regional investment pitches signal an intent to convert the agreement and port links into practical business flows and new partnerships.
Port of Antwerp-Bruges convened Belgian and Indian policymakers and business leaders in Mumbai to discuss the opportunities created by the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, concluded in early 2026. This forms part of the port’s strategy to develop trade relations with India and consolidate its position as a key European g
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