‘Shared dedication to eradicate terrorism’: PM Modi as India, Belgium signal key MoUs | India Information

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, Prime Minister NArendra Modi

NEW DELHI: India and Belgium on Thursday signed a sequence of MoUs and agreements geared toward increasing bilateral cooperation throughout renewable vitality, defence, commerce, funding, maritime affairs, important minerals, semiconductors and analysis, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever held talks in New Delhi.The agreements had been exchanged within the presence of PM Modi and De Wever at Hyderabad Home, with the 2 sides searching for to show the longstanding India-Belgium relationship right into a broader strategic and financial partnership.PM Modi mentioned the 2 international locations had agreed to strengthen cooperation in a number of rising areas, together with startups, maritime capability constructing, universities and analysis, whereas additionally working in the direction of a Migration and Mobility Partnership Settlement to facilitate the motion of expertise.“In the present day, we agreed to strengthen connections between our startups and improve capability constructing within the maritime sector. We can even reinforce cooperation within the college and analysis sectors, and we are going to quickly signal a Migration and Mobility Partnership Settlement to facilitate the motion of expertise. In the present day we additionally held detailed discussions on regional and world developments. Each India and Belgium consider within the rule of legislation, dialogue, and diplomacy…”The Prime Minister additionally highlighted the renewable vitality MoU signed in the course of the go to, saying it could present contemporary momentum to bilateral cooperation on sustainability. The 2 international locations have moreover determined to boost cooperation within the processing and recycling of important minerals.“Defence and safety cooperation is a key pillar of our relationship. In the present day, we have now agreed to boost navy exchanges and coaching cooperation between the 2 international locations. Agreements reached between our governments and defence industries will open up new alternatives for defence co-development and co-production. We can even additional strengthen intelligence sharing and cooperation towards crime between our respective companies. A clear vitality future and dependable provide chains are our shared priorities. The MoU on renewable vitality signed at present will give new momentum to our cooperation on sustainability. We now have determined to boost cooperation within the processing and recycling of important minerals. Belgium’s experience in semiconductors and India’s scale complement one another; on this regard, we are going to work collectively to combine Belgium’s IMEC Institute with India’s semiconductor ecosystem. Folks-to-people ties are the best power of our relationship.”The 2 sides additionally mentioned methods to strengthen financial ties following the conclusion of the India-European Union Free Commerce Settlement earlier this 12 months. PM Modi mentioned India and Belgium had taken a number of steps to translate the alternatives created by the settlement into concrete financial outcomes.“Earlier this 12 months, we concluded a historic Free Commerce Settlement between India and the European Union. This unprecedented cooperation between two of the world’s largest democratic powers will additional strengthen world stability, progress, and shared prosperity. India’s sustained financial progress and this settlement have opened up new prospects for our financial ties. In the present day, we have now taken a number of vital steps to translate these prospects into concrete outcomes. We now have established an ‘Funding Quick-Monitor Mechanism’ in India for Belgian firms. We now have determined to make the India-Belgium Enterprise Discussion board an everyday mechanism. We are going to improve synergy between the monetary, fintech, and regulatory establishments of each nations, and thru these measures, we are going to understand the purpose of doubling bilateral commerce over the following 5 years”Defence cooperation emerged as one other key element of the agreements and discussions. PM Modi mentioned India and Belgium had agreed to extend navy exchanges and coaching, whereas authorities and defence business agreements would create alternatives for co-development and co-production of defence gear.He additionally mentioned the 2 international locations would strengthen intelligence sharing and cooperation between their companies to fight crime.PM Modi mentioned India and Belgium had been additionally working collectively on trendy defence gear and cited the Zorawar tank for instance of the increasing partnership.“I had the chance to go to Belgium ten years in the past, and I’m delighted to see the exceptional progress our partnership has remodeled the previous decade. In the present day, the scope of our cooperation has expanded past conventional sectors to embody strategic areas equivalent to protection and clear vitality. We’re collaborating on trendy defence gear, such because the Zorawar tank. We’re additionally creating one of many world’s largest inexperienced ammonia tasks in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.“On clear vitality and know-how, PM Modi mentioned the renewable vitality settlement would strengthen cooperation on sustainability, whereas the proposed integration of Belgium’s IMEC Institute with India’s semiconductor ecosystem would mix Belgian experience with India’s scale.The 2 international locations additionally mentioned important minerals, significantly their processing and recycling, as either side look to construct extra dependable provide chains.PM Modi mentioned the newest agreements marked an enlargement of ties past conventional areas equivalent to diamonds and commerce.“Final month, Belgium and the Netherlands collectively hosted the Hockey World Cup. I prolong my heartiest congratulations to you for the magnificent group of this World Cup. I additionally commend our gamers for his or her onerous work and efficiency. Diamonds have lengthy linked India and Belgium. In the present day, we’re reworking this historic bond right into a complete partnership. I’m assured that our discussions at present mark the start of a brand new chapter in our bilateral relations...”The Prime Minister additionally positioned the bilateral engagement within the context of ongoing world conflicts and geopolitical uncertainty, saying India and Belgium supported efforts in the direction of peace whereas sharing a dedication to combating terrorism.“… Whether or not it’s Ukraine or West Asia, we help all efforts in the direction of an early finish to battle and the institution of peace; moreover, eradicating terrorism in all its kinds is our shared dedication. Final month, Belgium and the Netherlands collectively hosted the Hockey World Cup. I prolong my heartiest congratulations to you for the magnificent group of this World Cup. I additionally commend our gamers for his or her onerous work and efficiency. Diamonds have lengthy linked India and Belgium. In the present day, we’re reworking this historic bond right into a complete partnership. I’m assured that our discussions at present mark the start of a brand new chapter in our bilateral relations…”PM Modi mentioned the broader world setting remained difficult, with conflicts affecting meals and gas safety in addition to provide chains. He mentioned India’s financial system had continued to take care of its momentum regardless of the uncertainty.“The world is at present going by a interval of nice upheaval. Battle conditions persist in varied elements of the globe, and uncertainty is impacting sectors starting from meals and gas to produce chains. Even amidst this difficult setting, the Indian financial system has maintained its momentum; we recorded a progress fee of seven.8% within the final quarter. In the present day, India’s progress story is changing into a supply of confidence and new alternatives for the world.“The agreements and discussions got here throughout De Wever’s first go to to India as Belgian Prime Minister. He’s within the nation from September 2 to 4 on the invitation of PM Modi. His go to can be the primary by a Belgian Prime Minister to India in twenty years.De Wever, who took workplace in February 2025, is accompanied by Belgium’s Minister of Defence and Overseas Commerce, Theo Francken, together with a high-level delegation of officers and enterprise leaders, together with representatives from the Belgian defence business.Earlier on Thursday, Francken held the India-Belgium Defence Ministers’ Assembly with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the place either side mentioned increasing defence cooperation and larger engagement between their defence industries.“The world is witnessing a time of nice geopolitical and financial turmoil. Most of it’s not our doing, however we have now to deal with the challenges. In such conditions, assembly a pal and associate such as you supplies a helpful alternative to trade views and views,” Singh mentioned.Singh mentioned the not too long ago held India-Belgium Strategic Dialogue had offered a framework for taking the bilateral partnership ahead, significantly in defence and safety.“We welcome larger cooperation with Belgian and Indian defence firms,” he mentioned.Francken, in the meantime, referred to as for deeper cooperation with India, highlighting the nation’s technological capabilities and saying Belgium wanted companions equivalent to India for future tasks.“We will study a lot from you. You’re a high-technology nation. You might be probably the most densely populated international locations, and we actually must work collectively as a result of Belgium is an outdated Western European nation with numerous know-how, however we’d like international locations like India. We have to collaborate on future tasks, and for Belgium, that is the best way ahead”Francken additionally referred to Belgium’s financial mission to India led by Princess Astrid in March 2025, describing it as a primary step in the direction of a renewed relationship between the 2 international locations.He mentioned the mission had helped generate momentum in bilateral ties, with contracts being signed on collaboration tasks inside 18 months.“That’s wonderful. Which means that we labored onerous, that our folks labored onerous, and that we will go additional on this pathway.”The Belgian minister additionally mentioned De Wever’s go to had a packed agenda targeted on increasing bilateral cooperation.“I am very comfortable to be right here with our Prime Minister. For first time in additional than 20 years a Belgian Prime Minister is visiting your stunning nation. We now have a busy, busy schedule with lot of signing ceremonies, numerous good talks with the Prime Minister…”Francken mentioned Belgium and India might handle the geopolitical challenges dealing with the world by larger friendship and partnership.“I believe it’s very proper whenever you speak about geopolitical challenges that we have now to satisfy. We did not organise them, we did not at all times need them, however we should be lifelike, and we have to go additional. And we will do that in friendship and partnership between Belgium and India.”