The conversation at the India – Belgium engagement is now shifting towards ports, logistics, air connectivity, resilient supply chains and diversified value chains, as India and Belgium are seeking further trade engagement between the two countries. The Mumbai dialogue followed the 16th India–EU Summit held in New Delhi in January 2026, where India and the EU announced the conclusion of negotiations on the India–EU Free Trade Agreement.
During his visit to Mumbai as a part of India – Belgium high-level delegation on the India – EU Free Trade Agreement, the Prime Minister of Belgium Mr Bart De Wever spoke about robust logistics connectivity and diversified supply chains that will be critical in translating the India–European Union Free Trade Agreement into actual cargo and trade growth. Strong logistics connections are essential, said Mr De Wever, to turn the opportunities created by the India–EU FTA into reality also describing Port of Antwerp-Bruges as a “crucial logistics bridge between India and Europe,” he said.
Union Minister Mr Piyush Goyal described Belgium as standing at the gateway of the opportunity created by the India–EU FTA and referred to the Port of Antwerp-Bruges as the, “the doorway through which the FTA’s promise would physically arrive in Europe or be dispatched to India.” He specifically highlighted Antwerp-Bruges’ multimodal network, noting its maritime facilities and road, rail and inland-waterway links as an important distribution route for Indian cargo moving deeper into European markets.
According to Goyal, FTA isn’t merely a tariff story as he pondered upon effectively linking trade liberalisation with the physical infrastructure required to move additional cargo while also highlighting the broken supply chains as a part of the strategic rationale. He specifically identified opportunities extending from potato processing and cold chains to wider food processing, “Technology and sustainable agri-value chains can serve the entire world through Belgium and India,” he added.
The Chief Minister of Maharashtra Mr Devendra Fadnavis also sought Belgium’s cooperation for developing Maharashtra as a global logistics hub for trade and investment. Fadnavis used the India–Belgium dialogue to pitch the state as a key logistics and industrial partner in the emerging India–EU trade landscape. Highlighting the complementary strengths of the two sides, he pointed to Belgium’s established capabilities in ports and logistics and Maharashtra’s expanding industrial and infrastructure base. Fadnavis sought deeper Belgian participation across a range of sectors, with port-led development and logistics forming an important part of the proposed cooperation. He also called for stronger engagement between Maharashtra’s maritime ecosystem and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, particularly in areas such as logistics technology, port digitalisation, green shipping, hydrogen and skills. Taking the existing Mumbai–Antwerp commercial relationship beyond its traditional diamond connection, the Chief Minister proposed a broader Mumbai–Antwerp Economic Partnership that could bring together government agencies, port authorities and industry to expand cooperation across logistics, finance, technology, innovation and sustainability.
As the logistics opportunity looks significant for both countries, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges itself confirmsthat it handled6.3 million tonnes of India-linked cargo in 2025, and that India ranked as itsthird-largest trade partner for breakbulk and seventh-largest for containers. Against this backdrop, the India–EU FTA is expected to create opportunities for renewed cargo growth, with lower trade barriers and simplified customs procedures potentially supporting higher flows of goods between India and Europe. Mr De Wever said the FTA would scrap or reduce tariffs on more than 95% of Indian and European goods exports, potentially creating additional cargo opportunities across sectors such as textiles, machinery and automotive components. For Indian exporters, according to Port of Antwerp-Bruges, the port is positioning itself as a key gateway for growing cargo flows between India and Europe.
Putting logistics at the centre of the post-FTA relationship, Mr De Wever positioned Belgium and particularly the Port of Antwerp-Bruges as a strategic gateway for Indian cargo entering the European market. He said Belgium was choosing reliable trading partners and trade relationships that diversify supply chains at a time when protectionism and economic dependencies are gaining ground globally. He also noted that for Antwerp as an inland gateway rather than simply a European seaport, “two-thirds of the European purchasing power is in trucking range of Antwerp,” he added. For cold-chain and pharmaceutical logistics, he said, “The port of Antwerp is the first port in the world to guarantee an unbroken cold chain.” He also highlighted that almost all Indian shrimp entering Northwest Europe comes in through the port of Antwerp.
The FTA is expected to deepen cooperation beyond cargo handling. The dialogue also identified maritime services, port infrastructure, dredging and green hydrogen as potential areas for cooperation, opening the possibility of future energy-related cargo flows between India and Belgium.
For the logistics industry, the India–EU FTA therefore represents considerably more than tariff liberalisation. Increased trade volumes will require corresponding improvements in port capacity, multimodal connectivity, customs efficiency, cold-chain infrastructure, maritime services and resilient India–Europe supply chains. With India–EU trade already nearing $140 billion and India and Belgium aiming to double their bilateral trade over the next five years, efficient cargo movement could become increasingly important in translating the FTA’s market-access gains into actual trade flows.
The engagement is further expected to move from policy discussions towards commercial partnerships. A delegation from the Antwerp-Bruges port community including terminal operators and companies from the logistics, chemicals and energy sectors is scheduled to visit India in February 2027, as announced by the Belgium Prime Minister during the Mumbai dialogue.
