Princess Astrid Of Belgium Visits Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority To Boost Indo-Belgian Maritime Cooperation

The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) hosted Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium on Friday, representative of His Majesty the King, during her official visit to India. Accompanied by a high-level business delegation, the visit aimed to enhance Indo-Belgian maritime cooperation.

JNPA Chairman Unmesh Sharad Wagh briefed the delegation on the port’s infrastructure and the upcoming Vadhvan Port Project, a major initiative set to boost India’s maritime trade. A key highlight was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between JNPA and APEC-Antwerp/Flanders Port Training Centre to establish a port-focused training institute in India, advancing maritime education and workforce development.

The delegation also toured the DEME hopper dredging vessel Congo River and the JNPA-APEC Training Centre, gaining insights into JNPA’s sustainable dredging solutions and skill development programs.

Princess Astrid’s visit marks a significant step in strengthening maritime ties between India and Belgium, fostering collaboration in port development, training, and sustainable maritime solutions. The Belgian delegation included senior government officials, diplomats, and industry leaders.