Key engagement

Australia and Belgium have a close relationship grounded in shared values, international cooperation, particularly in multilateral fora, and growing trade and investment ties.

Outlook

Following Belgium’s Economic Mission to Australia in October 2023, strong investment flows and people-to-people links will continue to support bilateral ties.

Bilateral relations

Australia and Belgium work together in the multilateral arena to promote the rules-based order and share similar approaches to many international issues, including human rights, arms control, counter-terrorism, whaling and Antarctica. 

The bilateral relationship is underpinned by strong historical ties stemming from World War I. Many Australians served in Belgium between 1916 and 1918, notably during the Battle of Messines on 7 June 1917, and the Third Battle of Ieper, from 31 July to 6 November 1917.

Reflecting our many common values, Australia and Belgium have worked closely together in various organisations to promote global peace and security, including during Belgium’s term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (2019-20) and our overlapping terms on the UN Human Rights Council in 2018. Belgium is a member of the Australia Group on Chemical Weapons.

Foreign policy

Belgium’s foreign policy priorities include upholding multilateralism and the rules-based order, strengthening European Union integration, addressing climate change, advancing human rights and gender equality, supporting nuclear non-proliferation, providing long-term support to Ukraine, and securing lasting peace and stability in the Middle East.

Fast Facts

Belgian visitors to Australia (2023)

18,217

Australian resident returns from Belgium (2023)

8,080

Resident Australian population born in Belgium (2021 census)

7,610

Australian residents of Belgian descent (2016 census)

14,189

Belgian working holidaymakers (2023)

2,870

Belgian student arrivals in Australia (2023)

605

High level engagement

• October 2023 — Then Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Affairs, Foreign Trade and the Federal Cultural Institutions, Hadja Lahbib, met with Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, and Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator the Hon Don Farrell, in Canberra.
• October 2023 — Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid led a Belgian Economic Mission to Australia, meeting with His Excellency, General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), and the state governors and senior state ministers in Victoria and New South Wales. 
• September 2022 — Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator the Hon Penny Wong met with then Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
• April 2022 — Then Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, met with then Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sophie Wilmès on the sidelines of the NATO Foreign Ministers’ Summit in Brussels.

Agreements with Belgium

Australia has several bilateral agreements with Belgium, including on social security, double taxation, mutual legal assistance and health care.

Texts of bilateral agreements available through the Australian Treaties Database.

Public diplomacy

The Australian Embassy to Belgium and Luxembourg and Mission to the European Union and NATO manages a wide ranging public diplomacy program. Its objective is to promote Australia as an open, diverse, and innovative country with similar values to Belgium.

Public diplomacy activities are focused on promoting two-way trade and investment and showcasing Australia’s work on promoting human rights and gender equality, including through social media. The Embassy works with government and business stakeholders, as well as think tanks and NGOs, to run panel events.

The Embassy supports an extensive program of activities and high-level engagement commemorating Australia’s involvement in World War I in Belgium. In 2022, Lieutenant General John Frewen participated in ANZAC day events in western Flanders, including delivering the ANZAC Commemorative Address at Tyne Cot Cemetery.

The Embassy promotes Australian Indigenous culture in Brussels through cultural events, including art exhibitions.

Australian Embassy in Brussels

Facebook: @AustraliainBrussels
X: @AustraliaEU

Economic diplomacy

Australia and Belgium have a productive economic relationship. Economic diplomacy efforts are focused on promoting two-way trade and investment, supporting the multilateral trading system and facilitating opportunities for both countries to benefit from research innovation in science and technology.

Total two-way goods and services trade between Australia and Belgium in 2023 was valued at $5.4 billion. Merchandise trade includes exports of Australian pearls and gems, oil seeds & oleaginous fruits, and coal. Imports from Belgium focus on pharmaceutical products and medicaments.

Belgium is a major trade gateway to the EU’s member states, but in particular to the three countries with which it shares a border – Germany, France, and the Netherlands. These three countries are Belgium’s principal export destinations and import sources.

More economic and trade information [PDF].

Australia continues to seek opportunities to promote Australian business and raise awareness of potential benefits of increased trade and investment between Australia and Europe, including Belgium.

Business

Belgium is an open, services-driven and export-oriented economy. Australian companies with a presence in Belgium include Telix Pharmaceuticals in Seneffe, Cochlear in Mechelen, Sonic Healthcare in Antwerp, and Amcor in Ghent. In 2023, the stock of total Australian investment in Belgium was valued at $10 billion.

Belgian investments in Australia cover a range of sectors including agri-food, wine, construction and engineering, machinery, ICT/software, mining and resources, and manufacturing. Leading Belgian companies with a presence in Australia include Kreglinger, Jan de Nul, Sarens, Finasucre and Besix. In 2023, Belgium's total stock of direct investment in Australia was valued at $4 billion.

The Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) Paris Office focuses on attracting foreign direct investment and promoting Australia’s education services in Belgium.

Travel

See Smartraveller for Information on travelling to Belgium.