World News Today: International News Headlines - The Hindu | The Hindu
· collected 2026-09-04 · by The Hindu Bureau
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever is in Mumbai to discuss the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and promote the Port of Antwerp-Bruges as a gateway for Indian exports to Europe. The agreement, which has been under discussion for 25 years, aims to eliminate or reduce tariffs on over 95% of Indian and European goods exports. Bilateral trade between India and Belgium stood at approximately $13.08 billion in 2025-26, with both sides seeking to increase investment and collaboration in various sectors, including diamonds and pharmaceuticals. Mr. De Wever warned against protectionist policies that can inflict economic damage on trading partners, while Union Minister Piyush Goyal invited Belgian companies to invest in India's growing economy.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever visited Mumbai on September 4, 2026, where he promoted the Port of Antwerp-Bruges as a key logistics hub for Indian exports to Europe. He is part of a high-level dialogue on the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which has been under discussion for around 25 years. De Wever stated that the FTA would create opportunities in various sectors, including diamonds, pharmaceuticals, food processing, maritime services, green hydrogen, and infrastructure. The agreement is expected to reduce tariffs on 95% of Indian and European goods exports, with bilateral trade between India and Belgium reaching approximately $13.08 billion in 2025-26. De Wever emphasized the importance of open markets and free trade, warning that arbitrary protectionist measures can inflict significant economic damage on trading partners.
Written for “Belgian Trade Initiative” on 2026-09-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score +0.35 for article 3982 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-04
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever on Friday (September 4, 2026) pitched the Port of Antwerp-Bruges as a gateway for Indian exports to Europe.
asserted
Wever → pitch → Europe
“The India-Belgium FTA would strengthen trade, create opportunities for businesses, young talent and investment, and make the Indian and European economies more resilient to global disruptions.
asserted
economies → strengthen → disruptions
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges will be a key logistics link between India and Europe creating opportunities in diamonds, pharmaceuticals, food processing, maritime services, green hydrogen and infrastructure,” Mr. De Wever said.
asserted
Wever → create → diamonds
“The agreement is expected to eliminate or reduce tariffs on more than 95% of Indian and European goods exports,” he added.
asserted
he → expect → exports
Bilateral trade between both countries stood at approximately $13.08 billion in 2025-26.
asserted
trade → stand → 2025
“More and more voices today are calling for barriers to go up, for markets to be shut off, and for tariffs to be imposed.
asserted
tariffs → call → ?
Some do this entirely arbitrarily.
asserted
Some → do → this
They decide something on Monday, revoke it on Wednesday, and reinstall it on Saturday.
asserted
They → decide → Saturday
In doing so, they inflict serious economic damage on their trading partners, making them dependent and turning them into vassals,” said Mr. De Wever.
asserted
Wever → do → vassals
‘Invest in India’
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal has invited Belgian companies to invest in India, saying Belgium’s technology, innovation and capital could be combined with India’s scale, talent and young workforce.
Mr. Goyal described Maharashtra as an attractive destination for investment and highlighted its position as India’s financial, commercial and industrial hub.
uncertain
Goyal → invest → hub
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said he wants Belgium to be central to the state’s growth toward a $1-trillion economy.
asserted
Belgium → say → economy
“Our ambition is clear: to build Maharashtra into a $1-trillion economy by 2030, and we want Belgium to be a part of that journey,” Mr. Fadnavis said.
asserted
Fadnavis → build → journey
Mr. Goyal said the trade agreement, which had been under discussion for around 25 years, would create opportunities for farmers, fishermen, MSMEs, startups, women entrepreneurs, manufacturers and service providers across India and Europe.
asserted
which → say → India
“The India-EU FTA brings together around two billion people, representing about a quarter of global GDP, a third of world trade and a market of around $24 trillion,” Mr. Goyal said.
asserted
Goyal → bring → trillion
He said all 27 EU countries were supportive of completing the remaining formalities and bringing the agreement into force at the earliest.
asserted
countries → say → earliest
Diamond opportunity
On India-Belgium cooperation in the diamond sector, Mr. Goyal said the two countries could deepen collaboration in design and co-creation in gems and jewellery, including lab-grown diamonds, while also working towards greater cooperation in technology and certification centred around Antwerp, Mumbai and Surat.
uncertain
countries → say → Antwerp
The diamond industries of India and Belgium have shared commercial links for more than a century, with Antwerp serving as a major global diamond trading centre and India playing a leading role in cutting and polishing diamonds.
asserted
India → share → diamonds
India-Belgium gems and jewellery trade stood at around $3.5 billion in 2025-26, according to Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council chairman Kirit Bhansali.
uncertain
trade → stand → Bhansali
