India and Belgium Sign MoUs on Energy and Defence

Key facts

• India and Belgium signed multiple MoUs covering renewable energy, defence, trade, investment, maritime affairs, critical minerals, semiconductors, and research on September 3, 2026.
• The agreements were exchanged at Hyderabad House in New Delhi in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever.
• India and Belgium agreed to enhance cooperation in startups, maritime capacity building, university and research sectors, and will soon sign a Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement.
• A dedicated MoU on renewable energy was signed to boost sustainability cooperation between the two nations.
• Both countries decided to enhance cooperation in the processing and recycling of critical minerals.
• Defence cooperation will include increased military exchanges, training cooperation, co-development and co-production of defence equipment, and strengthened intelligence sharing.
• India and Belgium are collaborating on the Zorawar tank and a green ammonia project in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.
• Belgium's IMEC Institute will be integrated with India's semiconductor ecosystem.
• An Investment Fast-Track Mechanism for Belgian companies in India was established, and the India-Belgium Business Forum will be a regular mechanism.
• The two sides aim to double bilateral trade over the next five years following the India-EU Free Trade Agreement concluded earlier in 2026.
• This was Belgian PM Bart De Wever's first visit to India, the first by a Belgian Prime Minister in two decades.
• Separately, India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a Defence Ministers' Meeting with Belgian Minister of Defence Theo Francken to expand defence industry engagement.