Ankara: Belgium's Queen Mathilde will embark on an 'Economic Mission' to Trkiye from May 10-14, accompanied by a high-level delegation aimed at enhancing bilateral economic and commercial cooperation.
According to Anadolu Agency, the delegation will include Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot, Defense Minister Theo Francken, who also oversees foreign trade, Brussels-Capital Region Minister-President Boris Dillies, Flemish Region Minister-President Matthias Diependaele, Walloon Region Vice-President Pierre-Yves Jeholet, as well as 428 private sector representatives.
The visit seeks to solidify the growing economic ties between Trkiye and Belgium, focusing on diversifying cooperation areas and expanding economic and trade relations. Key sectors such as energy, defense, aviation, logistics, health and life sciences, banking, technology, and digitalization will be explored for investment and business opportunities.
Activities during the mission will include company visits, bilateral meetings, and business-to-business (B2B) interactions between firms from both countries. The Trkiye-Belgium Economic Forum is also scheduled, with expectations of signing intergovernmental agreements and documents in defense, aviation, and social security, alongside private sector agreements.
The mission will also spotlight the contributions of the Turkish community in Belgium, which plays a significant role in the country's economic and social landscape. Ministers from the delegation will engage with their Turkish counterparts and hold discussions with public and private sector representatives in Istanbul and Ankara.
Bilateral relations between Trkiye and Belgium have traditionally been positive, gaining momentum recently due to regional and global developments. Both countries are keen to explore cooperation in areas like economy, trade, defense, and energy, while reinforcing ties within NATO and the European Union.
The bilateral trade volume between the two nations reached $9.2 billion in 2025, with Turkish exports at $5 billion and imports at $4.2 billion. Belgian investments in Trkiye amounted to $9.3 billion between 2002 and January 2026, while Turkish investments in Belgium were $490 million during the same period. Approximately 300,000 Turkish citizens in Belgium serve as a vital link between the two countries, contributing significantly to Belgium's economy and society.
Belgium's Economic Mission visits, conducted twice yearly, are prominent economic diplomacy initiatives with a robust political component. These missions focus on key sectors of economic relations with host countries and aim to foster concrete cooperation opportunities. The last Economic Mission visit to Trkiye occurred in 2012, led by King Philippe, then crown prince, with Queen Mathilde accompanying him as Princess Mathilde.