Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with Princess Astrid of Belgium and the Defence Minister Theo Francken in New Delhi on Monday and discussed the possibility of defence engagements in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in maritime domain. They also discussed ways and means to enhance defence industrial cooperation between the two countries.

Singh welcomed Belgian investments in the defence sector. He suggested that the Belgian companies could play an important role by expanding their footprint in India and integrating the Indian vendors in their supply chains.

Further, both countries agreed to explore an institutionalised defence cooperation mechanism.

Princess Astrid is leading the Belgian delegation to India from March 1-8 to strengthen trade and diplomatic ties. The delegation includes representatives from 36 Brussels-based companies, with a focus on key industries like pharmaceuticals, logistics, aerospace, and renewable energy. The India-Belgium Tech Forum, to be held on Wednesday, will promote technological partnerships.

The delegation’s activities include seminars on construction, water, and waste management, fostering collaboration in cleantech. They also visited the Belgian company Agristo’s first production facility outside Europe, marking the start of a new fry production line. The visit aims to boost bilateral trade and business opportunities.