Bilateral talks in New Delhi

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday highlighted trade, investment and financial cooperation as key pillars of India-Luxembourg relations during his meeting with Luxembourg Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel in New Delhi.

Bettel, who is also Luxembourg’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, arrived in India on September 7 for a three-day official visit. He is accompanied by Luxembourg’s Minister of Economy, Lex Delles. The visit will continue until September 9 and includes engagements in both New Delhi and Chennai. 

Economic partnership at the centre

During the bilateral meeting, Jaishankar said the two countries’ relationship has expanded beyond traditional areas of cooperation, with economic engagement remaining at its core.

“Trade, investment, financial cooperation” are central to the relationship, Jaishankar said, while pointing to growing opportunities in space, digital technologies and green technologies.

The External Affairs Minister also described India-Luxembourg ties as a “very trusted relationship” and said the two sides now have the confidence to deepen cooperation further. (The Tribune)

Focus on supply chains and diversification

The discussions come at a time when governments and businesses are increasingly looking to diversify global supply chains amid geopolitical and economic uncertainties.

Jaishankar said India and Luxembourg could do more in areas including supply-chain resilience and diversification. The focus reflects the broader effort by India and its European partners to develop more reliable economic links and expand cooperation in emerging sectors. 

The two sides also discussed cooperation in the health sector. Jaishankar recalled the collaboration between India and Luxembourg during the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of the wider partnership between the two countries.

Luxembourg backs India-EU FTA

Another important issue in the meeting was the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement.

Jaishankar welcomed Luxembourg’s strong support for the agreement and said its eventual entry into force could open new opportunities for the India-Luxembourg partnership. He noted that the FTA had crossed an important milestone and expressed confidence that it would create new possibilities for economic engagement between India and Europe. 

The trade agreement is significant for India’s wider economic engagement with the European market, particularly as both sides seek to expand trade and investment ties.

Technology and new areas of cooperation

The India-Luxembourg relationship is also widening into technology-intensive sectors. Jaishankar specifically referred to cooperation in space, digital technologies and green technologies.

The two countries have also previously discussed areas including fintech, space and artificial intelligence, indicating an effort to build newer economic and technological links alongside established diplomatic relations. 

Bettel’s Chennai engagements

Bettel’s India visit will move beyond New Delhi. According to the Ministry of External Affairs schedule, he is set to travel to Chennai on September 8, where he will visit IIT Madras and its Research Park before attending the inauguration of a new SES campus.

The Chennai programme is expected to provide an opportunity to examine cooperation involving research, technology and the private sector. 

The latest meeting between Jaishankar and Bettel therefore comes as India and Luxembourg seek to broaden a relationship that combines economic, financial and technological interests. With the India-EU trade agreement moving forward and both sides exploring newer areas such as digital and green technologies, the September 7–9 visit provides another platform to deepen bilateral engagement.

Bettel praises India’s delivery-oriented approach

Luxembourg Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel on Monday praised India’s efficiency and leadership, saying he values the country’s ability to translate commitments into action. During his official visit to New Delhi, Bettel also expressed appreciation for his relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and highlighted the importance of maintaining trusted and honest ties between the two countries. 

Bettel said one of the things he likes about Prime Minister Modi is that when he makes a commitment, it is followed by action. His remarks came during his interaction with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, as the two sides discussed ways to expand India-Luxembourg cooperation across economic and strategic sectors.

‘When you say something, you do it’

Referring to his previous association with Modi, Bettel said he had been fortunate to have good relations with the Indian Prime Minister even when he was serving as Luxembourg’s Prime Minister.

He praised India’s leadership for what he described as efficiency in delivering on political commitments. Bettel also underlined the importance of democratic values and said he wanted to thank Indian leadership for its approach.

The comments come at a time when India and Luxembourg are seeking to widen bilateral cooperation beyond traditional diplomatic engagement, with trade, investment, finance, technology and other emerging sectors increasingly becoming part of the relationship. 

Focus on trusted India-Luxembourg ties

Bettel stressed the importance of maintaining a relationship based on trust and honesty. His three-day India visit, from September 7 to 9, is aimed at strengthening bilateral engagement and exploring new areas of cooperation.

Earlier on Monday, Jaishankar and Bettel discussed trade, investment and financial cooperation, while also identifying space, digital technologies, green technologies and health as areas with further potential.

The discussions reflect the expanding scope of India-Luxembourg relations, particularly as both sides look at economic and technology partnerships alongside political ties.

Cooperation extends to technology and space

India and Luxembourg have been building cooperation in sectors including fintech, green finance, space applications, digital innovation and startups. Their engagement in these areas has gained importance as both countries look to connect investment opportunities with emerging technologies.

Bettel’s current visit is expected to provide another opportunity to advance these areas, while also strengthening the economic component of the bilateral relationship.

His visit also comes against the backdrop of India’s growing engagement with European countries on trade, investment and technology. Recent India-Europe discussions have increasingly focused on supply-chain resilience, clean technologies and investment facilitation.

Bettel to travel to Chennai

After his New Delhi engagements, Bettel is scheduled to travel to Chennai as part of the official visit. His programme includes engagements at IIT Madras and its Research Park, as well as the inauguration of a new SES campus. 

The Chennai leg is expected to add a technology and research dimension to the visit, complementing the political and economic discussions held in the national capital.

Broader European engagement

Bettel’s comments come amid a period of intensified India-Europe engagement. India has been seeking stronger partnerships with European economies in areas ranging from investment and technology to clean energy and critical supply chains.

For Luxembourg, a major European financial centre, deeper engagement with India also offers opportunities in financial services and investment. For New Delhi, stronger ties with Luxembourg contribute to its broader effort to expand economic and strategic partnerships across Europe.

Bettel’s praise for India’s ability to follow through on commitments therefore comes as the two countries work to translate their longstanding diplomatic relationship into wider cooperation in trade, finance, technology and innovation. 

Luxembourg Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Xavier Bettelarrived in India on Monday for a three-day official visit aimed at further strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries.

Bettel will be in India from September 7 to 9, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. During his visit, he is scheduled to hold talks with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in New Delhi. 

The visit comes as India and Luxembourg continue to expand cooperation across areas including trade and investment, financial services, digital technologies, innovation, space and people-to-people ties. Jaishankar and Bettel had also held discussions earlier this year on the broader India-Luxembourg relationship. 

Bettel to Hold Talks With Jaishankar

The Luxembourg Deputy Prime Minister is expected to meet Jaishankar in New Delhi on Monday as part of his official engagements.

The discussions are likely to provide an opportunity to review bilateral cooperation and exchange views on regional and international developments. The MEA has identified the visit as part of continuing high-level engagement between India and Luxembourg. 

The two countries have maintained diplomatic relations since 1948, with their relationship developing beyond traditional political engagement into areas such as commerce, investment and emerging technologies.

Chennai Visit on the Agenda

After his New Delhi engagements, Bettel will travel to Chennai, where he is scheduled to participate in programmes involving IIT Madras and its Research Park.

He is also scheduled to attend the inauguration of a new SES campus in Chennai. SES, a Luxembourg-headquartered satellite communications company, has an established presence in the global space and connectivity sector.

The Chennai leg is expected to highlight the technology and innovation dimensions of India-Luxembourg cooperation. 

Focus on Trade, Investment and Technology

Bettel's visit comes amid wider efforts to deepen India's economic and strategic engagement with European countries.

India and Luxembourg have discussed cooperation in areas including finance, investment, digital technologies, innovation and space. During Jaishankar's visit to Luxembourg in January 2026, both sides reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations and discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest. 

The two countries' engagement also takes place against the backdrop of India's broader push to strengthen economic partnerships across Europe.

Luxembourg's Role in India's European Engagement

Luxembourg is a small European country but has an important financial-services sector and is home to several international businesses and institutions.

For India, engagement with Luxembourg provides opportunities to expand cooperation in financial services, investment, technology and space-related activities.

Bettel's current visit therefore has both diplomatic and economic significance, particularly as New Delhi continues to strengthen ties with European partners.

Three-Day Visit to Strengthen Bilateral Ties

The September 7–9 visit combines political discussions in New Delhi with technology and business-related engagements in Chennai.

The immediate focus will be on Bettel's talks with Jaishankar and the outcomes of their discussions on bilateral cooperation. His Chennai engagements are expected to further underline the growing role of technology, research and space-related collaboration in India-Luxembourg relations.

The visit is the latest in a series of high-level contacts between the two countries and comes at a time when India is seeking deeper partnerships with European economies in trade, investment and emerging technologies.