Delegates Deepen Defence Dialogue with India
By Mewati Sitaram
The Belgian residence in Mumbai, the official residence of the Belgian Consul General, recently hosted a high-level delegation from Belgium’s Ministry of Defence and related organisations. The visit marked the conclusion of a day of intensive meetings and industry visits aimed at enhancing defence collaboration between India and Belgium. Mumbai was one of several key stops on the delegation’s India tour, which also included New Delhi, Pune, and Bengaluru.
Belgian officials visit Mazagon Dock for strategic discussions
The visit follows the Belgian Economic Mission held in March this year, led by Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid, where defence was identified as a key sector for bilateral engagement. Building on that momentum, Belgium’s Minister of Defence and Foreign Trade, Mr. Theo Francken, initiated this expert-level mission to India. The delegation is led by Major General Filip Borremans, Director General of Material Resources and National Armament Director.
Belgian defence delegation hosted at the Belgian Residence in Mumbai
In Mumbai, the delegation was led locally by Frank Geerkens, Consul General of Belgium. The team visited two of India’s major defence industry players—Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL). At L&T, the Belgian delegation held meetings with key company executives including Shri Satish Bharathan, Vice President & Head, Land Platforms, Equipment & Systems; Shri Avinash Upadhye, Head of International Business Development; Shri Mukesh Bopalkar, Head of Business Development & Marketing; and Ms. Aditi Gharpure, Deputy General Manager, International Business Development.
At Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, the team was hosted by Shri Ajit Kumar Daggaonkar, Chief Manager, for detailed discussions focused on maritime defence cooperation and emerging technological synergies.
The visit highlights Belgium’s intent to expand its footprint in India’s growing defence sector and signals a strong push towards strategic cooperation in areas such as defence production, technology exchange, and industrial co-development.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
