Belgian PM De Wever pays homage at Rajghat on first India visit
Synopsis
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever's first India visit since taking office opens with a Rajghat tribute, but the real weight lies ahead — Modi bilateral talks, a CII keynote on the India-EU FTA, and Mumbai meetings covering diamonds, ports, and logistics signal a visit designed to move the relationship from symbolism to substance.
Key Takeaways
Belgian PM Bart De Wever paid floral tributes at Rajghat , New Delhi, on 3 September .
This is De Wever's first official visit to India since assuming office in February last year .
Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken is part of the visiting delegation.
De Wever held bilateral talks with PM Narendra Modi covering trade, defence, technology, and global issues.
A keynote at a CII business event focused on the India-EU Free Trade Agreement was also on the agenda.
The visit concludes in Mumbai with stakeholder meetings in the diamond , ports , and logistics sectors.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in New Delhi on 3 September, marking the ceremonial start of his three-day official visit to India — his first since assuming office in February last year. The solemn gesture, a customary but symbolically significant stop for visiting heads of government, set the tone for a visit focused on deepening the India-Belgium partnership across trade, defence, and technology.
The Rajghat Tribute
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the homage as a reflection of the shared values underpinning the two nations' friendship. 'The life and legacy of Mahatma Gandhi continue to inspire the world,' Jaiswal said, adding that the tribute honoured Gandhi's 'enduring message of peace, non-violence and human dignity.' Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken is also part of the visiting delegation, signalling the security dimension of the visit.
Bilateral Talks and Modi Meeting
Later on Thursday, De Wever was scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, covering the full spectrum of bilateral relations as well as regional and global issues of mutual interest. De Wever was received on arrival by Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, underscoring the defence and security thread running through the visit.
Business Engagement and India-EU FTA
De Wever was also set to deliver a keynote address at a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) business event, with the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as the central context. The address is expected to reinforce Belgium's role as a key European partner in the ongoing FTA negotiations, given its position as home to major EU institutions in Brussels.
Mumbai Leg: Diamonds, Ports and Logistics
After concluding his New Delhi engagements, De Wever was set to travel to Mumbai, where he will meet stakeholders from the diamond, ports, and logistics sectors. The diamond connection is historically significant — Antwerp and Mumbai are two of the world's most important diamond trading hubs, and bilateral trade in the sector has long anchored the broader economic relationship. The MEA noted that the visit aims to advance cooperation in trade and investment, defence and security, technology, renewable energy, connectivity, and people-to-people ties, as well as to deepen India-EU and India-Europe engagement more broadly.
Point of View
But the composition of his delegation — including the Defence Minister — and the CII keynote framed around the India-EU FTA reveal a visit with concrete commercial and strategic intent. Belgium punches above its weight in EU affairs, and its diplomatic backing could matter as India and the EU push to close a trade deal that has been in negotiation for nearly two decades. The Mumbai leg, focused on diamonds and logistics, is a reminder that the India-Belgium economic relationship has deep sectoral roots that predate any FTA — and that both sides are keen to build on them regardless of the broader EU timeline.
NationPress
3 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Belgian PM Bart De Wever visit Rajghat?
De Wever paid floral tributes at Rajghat on 3 September as part of his three-day official visit to India, honouring Mahatma Gandhi's legacy of peace and non-violence. The tribute is a customary gesture for visiting heads of government and was described by the MEA as reflecting shared values between India and Belgium.
Is this Bart De Wever's first visit to India?
Yes, this is De Wever's first official visit to India since he assumed office as Belgian Prime Minister in February last year. The visit covers New Delhi and Mumbai over three days.
What did PM De Wever discuss with PM Modi?
De Wever held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi covering the full spectrum of India-Belgium relations, including trade and investment, defence and security, technology, renewable energy, and people-to-people ties, as well as regional and global issues of mutual interest.
What is the significance of the India-EU FTA in De Wever's visit?
De Wever delivered a keynote at a CII business event centred on the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, reflecting Belgium's role as a key EU member state. The FTA, long under negotiation, could significantly reshape trade flows between India and Europe.
What will De Wever do in Mumbai?
After New Delhi, De Wever travelled to Mumbai to engage with stakeholders from the diamond, ports, and logistics sectors — industries where India and Belgium, particularly through Antwerp, share longstanding economic ties.
