India and Belgium on Thursday called for deeper defence-industrial cooperation, with a focus on co-development and co-production of niche technologies to strengthen military capabilities and build more resilient defence supply chains.
Belgian Defence and Foreign Trade Minister Theo Francken and Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth made the call while addressing the India-Belgium Defence CEOs Roundtable and B2B Meetings in New Delhi, attended by Belgian defence companies, the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers.
Francken highlighted the scope for greater industrial collaboration between the two countries, stressing the need for joint efforts to strengthen the two militaries amid a rapidly evolving security environment. He also pointed to the expanding India-European Union strategic partnership and growing institutional cooperation in maritime security, information security and aerospace.
Seth called on Belgian defence firms to combine their technological expertise with India’s manufacturing scale and skilled workforce to develop and produce advanced systems for shared security interests.
He said India’s defence industry is moving decisively from import dependence towards indigenous capability, international partnerships and global competitiveness under Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India. Strategic autonomy, he said, is best strengthened through credible and mutually beneficial international cooperation.
The Minister identified cyber security, AI-enabled unmanned aerial systems, underwater vehicles and complex weapon systems as promising areas for bilateral collaboration.
He also highlighted India’s defence innovation ecosystem, including iDEX and ADITI, which are supporting startups and MSMEs working on AI, quantum technologies, military communications, counter-drone systems and adaptive camouflage.
India’s defence industrial base now includes Defence Public Sector Undertakings, a growing private sector and more than 16,000 MSMEs, with domestic companies operating across aerospace, naval and land systems, electronics, cyber security, space and unmanned technologies.
Seth said India has also liberalised defence FDI to 74% under the automatic route and up to 100% through the government route, while the new space policy permits 100% FDI in the sector. The Defence Industrial Corridors in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, along with proposed corridors in Maharashtra, Assam and other regions, are aimed at attracting global defence manufacturers and technology partners.
Multiple MoUs Exchanged:
The event saw the exchange of several MoUs aimed at combining Belgian technology with Indian engineering and manufacturing capabilities.
Agreements were exchanged between SIDM and Belgian Security & Defence Industry; Larsen & Toubro and Exail Robotics; Kalyani Strategic Systems and FN Herstal; Tembo Classic Engineering and Lachaussée; India Optel and OIP; Krishna Industries and Pitagone; DGVK Enterprises and Sol1; and Kalyani Strategic Systems, Thales Belgium and Thales India.
The agreements are expected to deepen industrial linkages and create new avenues for technology cooperation, joint development and manufacturing.
The latest engagement reinforces the growing India-Belgium defence partnership, while supporting New Delhi’s broader effort to expand indigenous defence production, attract advanced technologies and establish India as a reliable global defence manufacturing partner.
