NEW DELHI: India and Belgium are set to sign a number of agreements in the field of commerce and education as Belgian King Albert II is currently visiting India.
King Albert II, who arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday on a 10-day state visit, is accompanied by Queen Paola and Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht as well as a delegation which includes executives from the diamond, banking, ports, pharmaceutical and other sectors of the Belgian economy. Diamonds, gems and jewelry are the backbone of Indo-Belgian commercial relations.
Another sector that has potential to create mutually beneficial opportunities is in services, said Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Kamal Nath addressing a luncheon session held in honor of King Albert II on Tuesday. “India can provide such skills and expertise, especially in the fields of health, IT and engineering. A facilitative visa regime will be helpful in boosting Indo-Belgian trade in services,” Kamal Nath added.
The bilateral trade during 2007-08 was $8.6 billion representing a growth of 13 percent over the 2006-07 trade, which stood at $7.6 billion, Kamal Nath pointed out.