Belgian PM De Wever visits Mumbai diamond bourse to boost Belgium-India trade ties

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever received a grand welcome at the Bharat Diamond Bourse in Mumbai on Friday, featuring life-sized posters of himself, highlighting the strong Belgium-India ties in the diamond trade. The visit focused on the diamond sector, which accounts for about 30 percent of bilateral trade between the two countries. De Wever also inaugurated the renovated laboratory of HRD Antwerp, expanding its research capacity by 30 percent. The upgraded Mumbai lab, operational since 2012, will add 40 full-time staff and already generates nearly 60 percent of HRD Antwerp's total revenue. India is a major global player in polishing rough diamonds, which are exported to Antwerp for sale.