Piyush Goyal meets Belgian leaders in Brussels; India and EU aim to conclude FTA by end of 2025
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met Belgium's Theo Francken and Flanders' Matthias Diependaele in Brussels on 2 May 2025, as India and the EU reaffirmed their aim to conclude the FTA by the end of 2025.
Summary
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met Belgian Minister of Defence and Foreign Trade Theo Francken and Minister-President of Flanders Matthias Diependaele in Brussels on 2 May 2025. The meeting followed the March 2025 visit to India of Princess Astrid of Belgium, who led an over 300-member Belgian Economic Mission. Belgium is India's 5th largest trading partner in the EU, with bilateral trade of US$15.07 billion in 2023–24. In a separate dialogue, Goyal and European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič reaffirmed their resolve to conclude the India–EU Free Trade Agreement by the end of 2025, with the next round scheduled for 12–16 May 2025 in New Delhi.
Key facts
- Date
- 2 May 2025, Brussels
- Belgian side
- Theo Francken (Defence and Foreign Trade); Matthias Diependaele (Flanders)
- Earlier visit
- Princess Astrid, March 2025, 300+ member mission
- Trade
- US$15.07 billion (2023–24); 5th largest EU partner
- India–EU FTA
- To conclude by end of 2025; next round 12–16 May 2025, New Delhi
- EU Commissioner
- Maroš Šefčovič
Practice MCQs 2 questions
Piyush Goyal's meeting in Brussels on 2 May 2025 followed the March 2025 India visit of which Belgian royal, who led an over 300-member economic mission?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Princess Astrid
It followed the March 2025 visit of HRH Princess Astrid of Belgium, who led the over 300-member Belgian Economic Mission.
Consider the following statements: 1. Belgium is India's largest trading partner within the EU. 2. India and the EU reaffirmed their resolve to conclude the FTA by the end of 2025. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 2 only
Only 2 is correct. Belgium is India's 5th largest trading partner within the EU, with trade of US$15.07 billion in 2023–24.