Sunday, May 10th 2026
The Queen of Belgium, Mathilde, will pay a visit to Turkey as part of the “Economic Mission” from May 10 to 14, together with a high-level delegation aimed at strengthening bilateral economic and trade cooperation, according to Turkish Foreign Ministry sources, Anadolu reports.
The delegation that will accompany the queen will include the Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot, Minister of Defense Theo Francken, who is also responsible for foreign trade, Prime Minister of the Brussels Region Boris Dillies, Prime Minister of the Flemish Region Matthias Diependaele, Vice President of the Walloon Region Pierre-Yves Jeholet, as well as 428 representatives of the private sector.
The visit is expected to demonstrate the common will of both countries to further strengthen Turkey-Belgium relations, which have recently gained momentum, especially through diversification of areas of cooperation and comprehensive expansion of economic and trade relations.
Within the mission, investment and business opportunities in key sectors such as energy, defense industry, aviation, logistics, health and life sciences, banking, technology and digitalization are expected to be explored.
The program is also expected to include company visits, bilateral meetings and business-to-business (B2B) contacts between firms from both countries.
During the visit, the Turkey-Belgium Economic Forum is also expected to be held, while intergovernmental agreements and documents are expected to be signed in the fields of defense, aviation and social security, alongside agreements between representatives of the private sector.
The mission is also expected to highlight the achievements of the Turkish community in Belgium, which has become an integral part of Belgian society and contributes significantly to the economic and social life of the country.
Ministers participating in the delegation are expected to meet with their Turkish counterparts, while the delegation will also develop contacts with various representatives of the public and private sector in Istanbul and Ankara.
– Turkey-Belgium relations
Relations between Turkey and Belgium, which have traditionally remained at a positive level, have gained further momentum in light of recent regional and global developments, with increased contacts for closer cooperation in recent years.
Discussions between the two countries have focused on evaluating opportunities for cooperation in areas expected to shape the future of bilateral relations, including economy and trade, defense, energy and communications, as well as strengthening cooperation within NATO and the European Union in the face of common challenges.
The volume of bilateral trade between Turkey and Belgium reached 9.2 billion dollars in 2025, including 5 billion dollars of Turkish exports and 4.2 billion dollars of imports.
Belgian investments in Turkey reached 9.3 billion dollars from 2002 to January 2026, while Turkish investments in Belgium reached 490 million dollars during the same period.
About 300 thousand Turkish citizens living in Belgium serve as an important bridge between the two countries and make a significant contribution to the economic and social life of Belgium.
– Visits of the “Economic Mission” of Belgium
The visits of the “Economic Mission” of Belgium, organized twice a year, are considered one of the most important initiatives of the country’s economic diplomacy with a strong political dimension.
These missions usually include a series of activities focused on the key sectors of bilateral economic relations with the host country and aim to promote concrete cooperation opportunities.
Belgium had previously organized a visit of the “Economic Mission” to Turkey in 2012. At that time, the mission was led by Philippe, then Crown Prince, while Queen Mathilde accompanied him as Princess Mathilde.
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Source: prizrenpost
Etiketa: Brief
