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Belgium eyes infrastructure sector to forge ties with India

Belgium is keen to establish closer economic and commercial ties with India, particularly Maharashtra and Bombay and contribute to the development to transport, faster communications, reliable urban transport and increased power generation, said Prince Philippe of Belgium.

He is heading a Belgian economic mission to India.

At a meeting organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, the Belgian Foreign Trade Board and Fabrimetal in Bombay, the prince said the metropolis is the foremost financial power and has a strategic role in South Asia.

India, he said, ranks tenth in Belgium's trade overseas, and the concentration has been mainly in the area of precious stones.

The plans and projects drawn up by the Bombay metropolitan region upto the year 2011 are of the highest interest to Belgium, said the prince.

Elio di Rupo, Belgian deputy prime minister, said India is a significant player in the world trade and therefore a priority for Belgium. Belgian export of goods and services to India have doubled between 1992 and 1997, reaching $ 3 billion. More than 30 direct investments and 100 agreements for transfer of technology were signed during the same period.

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