Istanbul: Queen Mathilde of Belgium and her delegation concluded an intensive five-day economic mission to Trkiye, resulting in around 40 new commercial agreements across key sectors ranging from energy to defense. The visit marked the first high-level Belgian diplomatic and trade visit to Trkiye in 14 years, organized at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
According to Anadolu Agency, the queen was accompanied by a private-sector delegation of 428 representatives and senior government officials, including Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prevot and Defense Minister Theo Francken. Key regional officials such as Brussels Region Prime Minister Boris Dillies, Flemish Region Prime Minister Matthias Diependaele, and Walloon Region Deputy Prime Minister Pierre-Yves Jeholet also participated in the visit.
Erdogan and Queen Mathilde emphasized the geopolitical importance of Trkiye-EU relations amid ongoing regional instability. The Turkish president highlighted the urgency of updating the Customs Union as a critical step toward full EU membership. Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat met the queen and her delegation to discuss expanding the strategic dimensions of economic cooperation and trade relations between the two countries. Bolat and Prevot also signed a joint statement on developing bilateral trade ties.
An investment luncheon held in Istanbul focused on ways to effectively leverage the $9.2 billion trade volume between Trkiye and Belgium and explore broader investment potential. Participants deliberated on potential cooperation projects in Belgium and third countries, aligning with Trkiye's investment reform process and the global experience of the Turkish construction sector.
During a session on industrial opportunities, Turkish Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir described Trkiye as a reliable, capable, and complementary partner for Europe. The session concluded with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between MEXT and Belgian firms Flanders Make and A6K.
The delegation attended a panel on critical infrastructure with Turkish Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu and Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Ozdemir Goktas. Belgian officials also engaged in networking sessions hosted by the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TUSIAD), the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, and the Istanbul Chamber of Industry.
Queen Mathilde's delegation visited the Istanbul Financial Center campus of Trkiye's Central Bank, accompanied by Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek and Central Bank Governor Fatih Karahan. The delegation later toured defense firm Baykar's Ozdemir Bayraktar National Technology Center, where Baykar Chairman and Chief Technology Officer Selcuk Bayraktar presented on the company's unmanned aerial vehicles and kamikaze drone platforms.
Prevot remarked after the visit that Belgian companies showcased their capabilities in ports and logistics, biopharmaceuticals, healthcare, energy transition, digitalization, Industry 5.0, defense, and aviation. He noted that around 40 new commercial deals and business partnerships were signed during the mission.