The meeting convened prominent public officials and leading business representatives from Türkiye and Belgium. Turkish officials in attendance included Mehmet Şimşek, Minister of Treasury and Finance; Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, Minister of Family and Social Services; Fatih Karahan, Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye; and Mahmut Sütcü, Chairman of the Capital Markets Board of Türkiye. The Belgian delegation included Maxime Prévot, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Development Cooperation; Theo Francken, Minister of Defense and Foreign Trade; and senior representatives from the Brussels-Capital, Flemish and Walloon regional governments.
The meeting addressed the strengthening of trade and investment relations between Türkiye and Belgium, exploring cooperation opportunities in sustainable growth, identifying shared opportunities in industry and value chains, and the future of Türkiye-Belgium-EU relations. At the event, the objective of increasing high-level engagement between public and private sector representatives and developing a stronger strategic dialogue between the Turkish and Belgian business communities was highlighted.
“Bringing together leading representatives of the business communities of both countries, this event marks an important step toward transforming Türkiye-Belgium relations into a more strategic and results-oriented partnership. It also once again demonstrates the strategic value of Türkiye-EU relations at a time of growing global uncertainty.
The EU is advancing its initiatives to strengthen its competitiveness and economic security. All efforts in this direction should fully reflect Türkiye’s integrated role in European industry and value chains. These developments point to the need for a more inclusive, institutionalized and rules-based approach to EU-Türkiye relations. In this context, the modernization of the EU-Türkiye Customs Union has become not only an economic necessity, but also a strategic one.”
Highlighting the importance of the Belgian Economic Mission for the business communities of both countries, René Branders, Honorary President of VBO-FEB, said:
“This Belgian Economic Mission is essential because it brings the Belgian and Turkish business communities directly together to strengthen trade, investment and long‑term partnerships. At the same time, it offers a valuable moment to reflect on our broader EU–Türkiye economic framework and to advance the modernisation of the Customs Union, so that it remains fit for today’s realities of integrated value chains, digitalisation and sustainable growth.”
