Belgium was among the first European countries to establish diplomatic relations with independent India
Background
Today's Belgian news includes a prime ministerial visit to India, which rests on one of India's oldest European relationships.
The Embassy of India in Brussels records that Belgium was among the first European countries to establish diplomatic relations with independent India in September 1947.
Trade in diamonds dominates the bilateral trade relationship.
The Embassy gives India as Belgium's 14th largest export destination and India as the 15th largest importer to Belgium.
On the Embassy's figures there are around 24,732 members of the Indian diaspora in Belgium, of whom 14,286 are Non-Resident Indians and around 10,446 are Persons of Indian Origin.
The Non-Resident Indian figure includes around 764 Indian students and around 2000 IT professionals.
In plain words
NRI Non-Resident Indian — An Indian citizen residing outside India.
PIO Person of Indian Origin — A person of Indian descent holding another country's nationality.