Speech by the Minister for Foreign Affairs Yves Leterme at the seminar “Catching the Indian Tiger”

12/11/2009

Mr. Chairman,
Excellency,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Diplomatic relations between the Republic of India and the kingdom of Belgium were established 61 years ago, in 1948, and have remained excellent ever since. But the relations between our nations are much older than that. They started in Bengal, with a venture of the Ostend Company, authorized by the Austrian Emperor Charles VI who then ruled the Low Counties.

When subscription lists for the venture were opened in Brussels in August 1723, the required capital, six millions of florins, was raised in less than two days. The list of shareholders reads like the Gotha of the time: the Princes de Ligne and de Rubempré, the Duke d’Aremberg, the Counts de Windisch-Gratz and de Lalaing.

In December 1725 the general meeting of the Ostend Company sent out two ships, with the beautiful names “L'Espérance” and “La Paix”, under Alexander Hume, which arrived in August, 1726. After a year of negotiation with the Nabab, Hume settled a factory at Bankibazar, and another at Qasimbazar.

Today, there are, as far as I know, no princes or counts in this room, and the barons who take the floor here are businessmen, eager, as are the other participants, to expand their activities in India or to explore the vast possibilities of a country which is a continent in itself.

‘Catching the Indian Tiger’ is a catchy title for this seminar. It may sound overambitious to catch a tiger the size of India, but it is still better than trying to ride this tiger or to hold it by the tail.

If it may also seem overambitious to speak of partnerships between Belgium, a country of ten million people, and India, a fast developing power of more than a billion people, I would like to quote just a few figures. Belgium ranks fourteenth in the world in terms of Gross National Product per capita and twentieth in GNP in absolute figures. It ranks twelfth in value of its exports. This demonstrates a high level of economic development and also of know how in export and international trade.

I would like to urge Belgian companies to venture more actively into India. They do not go into unchartered territory. Already in the 19th century, Belgium was known in India for its manufacturing excellence, especially for its quality glass, lace iron and steel products. From their travels in Europe, Maharajahs and merchants would also bring back huge and sumptuous Belgian cut-glass or crystal chandeliers and mirrors. These pieces can still be admired alongside works of the great Flemish masters in such places as the Marble Palace in Calcutta, the Residence of the Prime Minister and the Presidential Palace, and in museums across the country.

Since then much has changed. India is one of the emerging giants, Belgian companies have invested in India, and Indian companies are quite active in Belgium. But for Belgian companies, there are still many opportunities in India to be explored, among others in ICT, services, new materials and clean technologies.

Indeed, this seminar comes at the right moment. It takes place between the 11th Joint Commission of the Belgium Luxemburg Economic Union (BLEU) and India, which was held in May of this year, and the mission of His Royal Highness Prince Philippe to India in March of next year. In this way, the seminar symbolizes a major characteristic of our policy towards India: continuity. A series of events is proof of this. Together with HRH Prince Philippe, an economic and commercial mission was organised in March 2005. From 2006 to 2008 no less then seven major missions took place. This series culminated in the State visit to India of Their Majesties King Albert II and Queen Paola in November 2008.

Since continuity also includes follow up, all these main events were interlinked with numerous personal and business contacts as well as bilateral consultations between Belgian and Indian partners. The Action Plan, taken out of the Joint Commission, is a roadmap which covers business activities and business related activities.

As one of the so called BRIC’s, India also enjoys full attention at the European level. The EU-India summits are proof of this. They give the opportunity to exchange views on all possible aspects in our relations. As EU President in the second half of 2010, Belgium will organise an EU-India Summit which, let us hope, will bring us a step forward in mutual understanding.

Moreover, during its EU Presidency, Belgium will bring together 43 (forty three) Heads of State and Government from Europe and Asia at the occasion of the ASEM Summit on the 4th and 5th of October next year. We expect India to play a major role in not only the debates during the Summit but also in the ASEM Business Summit. And we look forward to the Indian artworks to be displayed in the exhibition devoted to 25 centuries of relations between Asia and Europe. I would like to salute the energy and vision of the director of Bozar, Paul Dujardin, who managed to cajole and convince all the major Asian powers and other participants to take part in a common exhibition of Asian art which will be a first of its kind.

Already the Bozar/India Festival, held in Brussels in 2006, and inaugurated by the honourable Sonia Gandhi, was one of the largest Indian cultural events ever organised abroad.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Less than six weeks ago I took the floor at the seminar ‘India calling’ where Indian companies have been convinced that Belgium is their gateway to Europe. It was a successful commercial event. That I also wanted to come here demonstrates the interest of my government in the relations with India, and its commitment to encourage and help our companies to be more active in India. This seminar is an excellent initiative. It comes at the appropriate time, it serves the interests of Belgium and India and, last but not least, it helps to identify the needs of today and the challenges of tomorrow. I wish you a very successful continuation.