Belgium–India relations

Belgium–India relations are the bilateral ties between the Republic of India and the Kingdom of Belgium. India's Embassy in Brussels was opened in 1948. Belgium's embassy in New Delhi was opened in 1947. Its current complex, built in 1984, is an architectural marvel designed by Satish Gujral.

Belgium–India relations

Belgium	India
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of Belgium, New Delhi	Embassy of India, Brussels
Envoy
Belgian Ambassador to India Francois Delhaye	Indian Ambassador to Belgium Santosh Jha

Belgium being India's eight largest trading partner as of 2009, accounting for trade of nearly ₹ 41,552 crore.^[1] India and Belgium share the common value of "democracy, pluralism and rule of law" and Belgium has supported the G4 nations.^[2] The former deputy Prime Minister of Belgium Steven Vanackere had said that "slowly but surely" India was getting its "rightful place in global governance". He reiterated that Belgium "unequivocally" reconfirmed its support for India's bid for a permanent seat in the enlarged United Nations Security Council.^[3]

Bilateral trade

Indian PM Narendra Modi with Belgian PM Charles Michel, Brussels, 2016

India and Belgium have strong trading links, with India being the second largest importer of and fifth largest exporter to Belgian products.^[4] In 2008, The Government of India spoke about how Belgium and India were "partners in a globalised world".^[5] In November 2017, King Phillipe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium visited India for seven days.^[6]

There are many Indian diamond merchants from Gujarat and Rajasthan in Antwerp.

Diplomatic missions

The Belgian Embassy at Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi

Apart from the Embassy of Belgium, New Delhi, The Belgian Government has further opened two Consulates-General and two Honorary Consulates: in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Ahmedabad. The Mumbai Consulate General is located at Bandra-Kurla Complex,^[7] the Chennai Consulate General at Khader Nawaz Khan Road - Nungambakkam,^[8] the Kolkata Honorary Consulate at Camac Street( Abanindranath Thakur Sarani ),^[9] while the latest one, opened on April 26, 2017, is at GIFT City, Ahmedabad. Opening the Honorary Consulate made Belgium the first country to do so at India's first International Financial Services Centre(IFSC).^[10]

The Embassy of India, Brussels is located at Chaussee de Vleurgat 217, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.^[11] India also has its honorary consulates in Antwerp (Belgium) and Capellen (Luxembourg)^[12]

See also

• Foreign relations of Belgium
• Foreign relations of India

References

1. "Top 10 trading partners of India". Asiancorrespondent.com. Archived from the original on 28 December 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
2. "Indo-Belgium Relations". Whatisindia.com. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
3. "Belgium supports India's bid for permanent seat in UNSC". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 4 May 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 November 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
5. "Department of Commerce, Government of India". Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
6. "Belgian royal couple arrives in India". The Times of India.
7. "Consulate General in Mumbai". India.diplomatie.belgium.be. 4 December 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
8. "Address and opening hours". India.diplomatie.belgium.be. 3 August 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
9. "Honorary Consulate in Kolkata". India.diplomatie.belgium.be. 5 December 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
10. "Belgium opens honorary consulate in GIFT City". Thehindubusinessline.com. 26 April 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
11. "Embassy of India in Brussels, Belgium". Embassypages.com. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
12. "Welcome to Embassy of India, Belgium, Luxembourg & European Union". Indembassy.be. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2018.