Port of Antwerp-Bruges strengthens trade relations with India during visit by Prime Minister De Wever
Following Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s official visit to India, Port of Antwerp-Bruges and partners brought together Belgian and Indian policymakers and business leaders in Mumbai last week to discuss the opportunities created by the India-EU Free Trade Agreement. The event was part of Port of Antwerp-Bruges’ ambition to further develop its trade relations with India and consolidate its position as a key gateway for the growing cargo flows between India and Europe.
India is an important growth market for Port of Antwerp-Bruges. In 2025, the port handled 6.3 million tonnes of goods originating from or destined for India, making it the third-largest trade partner for breakbulk and the seventh-largest for containers. Port of Antwerp-Bruges has had a permanent presence in Mumbai since 2006, and this year is celebrating 20 years of operations there.
The collaboration goes beyond cargo flows. Through its subsidiaries, Port of Antwerp-Bruges International and APEC–Antwerp/Flanders Port Training Center, Port of Antwerp-Bruges shares its expertise in areas including port management, digitalisation, nautical operations and sustainability. In addition, it is exploring investment opportunities and contributing to the further development of India's port and maritime sector through training and knowledge exchange.
With negotiations concluded in early 2026, the India-EU Free Trade Agreement offers new opportunities for growth. Once the agreement comes into force, import duties on a wide range of goods will be reduced or abolished, and simpler customs procedures will ensure frictionless trade. The European Commission estimates that exports of EU goods to India – worth nearly €49 billion in 2024 – could double by 2032. The sectors that stand to benefit – including chemicals, pharmaceuticals, machinery, textiles and food – are closely aligned with Port of Antwerp-Bruges' cargo flows and industrial clusters.
Port of Antwerp-Bruges aims to turn the opportunities created by the free trade agreement into concrete trade, investment, and partnerships, further expanding its role as a logistics and industrial gateway between India and Europe. With that in mind, the port will return to India together with companies from the port community from 1 to 5 February 2027, as part of a multi-sector trade mission.
William Demoor, Chief Customer Relations Officer at Port of Antwerp-Bruges, said: “India has been a crucial trade partner for Port of Antwerp-Bruges for many years, and there is still a lot of potential. With our logistics and industrial clusters, our connectivity to the European hinterland, and our twenty-year presence in India, we have everything in place to support a significant part of that growth. We want to be the natural gateway to Europe for Indian companies, and the link to one of the world’s fastest-growing markets for European companies.”