India and Belgium Deepen Economic and Strategic Cooperation

07 May 2025 CW Team

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal met with Belgian Minister of Defence and Foreign Trade Theo Francken and Minister-President of Flanders Matthias Diependaele in Brussels to advance India–Belgium economic cooperation. The meeting aimed to strengthen collaboration in trade, investment, technology, and innovation.

This engagement follows the March visit of Princess Astrid of Belgium to India, which renewed momentum in bilateral ties. Both sides discussed growing synergies in semiconductors, clean energy, defence production and pharmaceuticals, identifying the Flanders region as a key strategic partner due to its robust industrial and research ecosystem.

The meeting reviewed progress in the European Union–India Free Trade Agreement negotiations, with emphasis on removing tariff and non-tariff barriers. Goyal reaffirmed India’s status as a reliable and long-term economic partner, noting its transformative growth story and reform-driven environment.

Bilateral trade between India and Belgium reached USD 15.07 Bn in two thousand twenty-three to twenty-four. Belgian foreign direct investment into India stood at USD 3.94 Bn since April two thousand, with a thirty-nine per cent increase in the last year alone.

Both sides agreed to expand high-level dialogues and boost business exchanges to fast-track mutual growth.

Source:Press Information Bureau, Government of India

Infrastructure Transport

01 Jun 2026

MMRDA advances 250 m on Orange Gate–Marine Drive tunnel

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has completed 250 m of underground tunnelling for the Orange Gate–Marine Drive Urban Road Tunnel using India’s largest slurry shield tunnel boring machine (TBM) deployed for an urban road project.The project involves twin tunnels extending over 7 km beneath critical transport corridors, including Central Railway, Western Railway and Metro Line 3. The work requires high-precision engineering to navigate densely developed urban infrastructure.Once completed, the tunnel is expected to reduce travel time between Orange Gate and Marin..

Hindustan Zinc Pays Rs 188.46 Billion in FY26

Hindustan Zinc contributed Rs 188.46 billion to the public exchequer in FY 2025-26, according to its 9th Tax Transparency Report. The contribution, equivalent to 46 per cent of the company’s revenue, included direct and indirect taxes, government royalties, dividends to the Government of India, withholding taxes and other statutory levies.The company’s five-year cumulative contribution to the exchequer stood at Rs 915.72 billion. In FY26, Hindustan Zinc reported revenue of Rs 408.44 billion, EBITDA of Rs 221.62 billion and profit after tax of Rs 138.32 billion. It also achieved its highest..

World of Concrete India 2026 Opens in Mumbai

Informa Markets in India will host the 12th edition of World of Concrete India 2026 from 3–5 June 2026 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai. The specialised B2B exhibition will bring together manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, developers, architects, consultants, infrastructure companies, project leaders and government stakeholders.The event is expected to feature over 350 brands and more than 18,000 trade professionals. It will cover concrete and cement, dry mortar, precast technologies, formwork, construction chemicals, industrial and commercial flooring, scaffolding, safety solutio..