Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hailed India’s economic growth story, saying the country’s growth is an inspiration for the whole world as he held delegation-level talks with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever in New Delhi.
Addressing the engagement with the Belgian Prime Minister, PM Modi highlighted India’s ability to maintain its growth momentum despite a challenging global environment and said the country was moving forward amid a period of uncertainty.
“India’s growth story is an inspiration for the whole world,” PM Modi said.
The Prime Minister said, “India is moving forward in a period of uncertainty,” while stressing that India had maintained its growth momentum despite the challenging environment.
PM Modi’s remarks on India’s
economic performance came during his talks with De Wever, who is on a three-day official visit to India at the invitation of the Prime Minister.
The two leaders met at Hyderabad House in the national capital as India continues to strengthen its engagement with the European Union and Europe.
The Prime Minister also highlighted India’s expanding economic engagement with Europe, saying, “We signed a free trade agreement with the EU.”
PM Modi said the India-Belgium partnership had made significant progress over the past decade, while outlining areas in which the two countries are seeking to expand cooperation.
“Our partnership has made significant progress over the past decade,” the Prime Minister said.
He also said the scope of cooperation between India and Belgium in defence and clean energy had expanded. He also pointed to ongoing cooperation on the Zorawar tank.
“We are working together on the Zorawar tank,” PM Modi said.
Trade and investment were another key focus of the Prime Minister’s remarks. PM Modi said India had established a mechanism to facilitate Belgian companies seeking to operate in the country.
“We have put in place a fast-track mechanism in India for Belgian companies,” he said.
He further said India and Belgium had set an ambitious target for bilateral trade.
“India and Belgium aim to double bilateral trade over the next five years,” the Prime Minister said.
He also referred to Belgium’s longstanding importance in the diamond trade and said Belgian Prime Minister De Wever had always supported the sector.
The Prime Minister also underlined the historical links between the two countries, recalling the contribution and sacrifice of Indian soldiers in Belgium during the First World War.
“The roots of India-Belgium relations are deeply embedded in history. The courage and sacrifice of thousands of Indian soldiers in Belgium during the First World War form an important part of our shared memory,” PM Modi said.
Security cooperation also featured in the Prime Minister’s remarks, with him saying that combating terrorism remained a shared commitment between India and Belgium.
“Uprooting terrorism is our shared commitment,” PM Modi said.
De Wever, who took office in February 2025, is visiting India for the first time as Belgian Prime Minister. His visit also marks the first visit by a Belgian Prime Minister to India in two decades.
Earlier on Thursday, De Wever paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, where he laid a wreath and offered flowers before signing the visitor’s book.
He was accompanied by Belgium’s Minister of Defence and Foreign Trade Theo Francken and a high-level delegation of officials and business leaders, including representatives from the Belgian defence industry.
The visit comes amid increased momentum in India-Belgium relations following the Belgian Economic Mission to India led by Princess Astrid in March 2025.
The mission brought together 338 participants from companies, chambers of commerce, academia and public institutions and resulted in 38 MoUs.
Earlier on Thursday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held extensive strategic talks with Francken, with discussions focused on expanding bilateral manufacturing capabilities. Multiple pacts were signed to strengthen industrial collaboration.
