Belgium's Queen Mathilde to lead economic mission to Türkiye

Belgium's Queen Mathilde will arrive in Türkiye on May 10 for a five-day economic mission accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prevot, Defense Minister Theo Francken and regional leaders from Brussels, Flanders and Wallonia, alongside 428 private sector representatives seeking to expand bilateral cooperation across strategic sectors.

Defense, energy and technology

The delegation is expected to explore investment opportunities in defense industry, aviation, logistics, health sciences and banking during company visits and business-to-business meetings in Istanbul and Ankara. Intergovernmental agreements covering defense cooperation, aviation protocols and social security arrangements are scheduled for signature alongside private sector contracts, according to diplomatic sources.

Trade volumes and diaspora

Bilateral trade between Türkiye and Belgium reached $9.2 billion in 2025, with Turkish exports accounting for $5 billion. Belgian direct investment in Türkiye has accumulated to $9.3 billion since 2002, while Turkish investments in Belgium stand at $490 million. The mission will also highlight the contributions of approximately 300,000 Turkish citizens who form an integral part of Belgian society.

Economic diplomacy tradition

Belgium organizes Economic Mission visits twice yearly as a core instrument of economic diplomacy, typically led by senior royal family members. The 2012 mission to Türkiye was headed by then-Crown Prince Philippe — now King — accompanied by Princess Mathilde, establishing precedents for the current visit's high-level engagement.