California Partners with Belgium to Boost Business, Strengthen Economic Ties

The two delegations' bilateral meeting. Phot courtesy of Governors office.

SAN FRANCISCO – Gov. Gavin Newsom Oct. 7 announced a new international partnership between California and Belgium to grow economic relations and advance research and innovation, including in clean technologies.

In San Francisco, the Governor and a delegation from California welcomed Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid, Princess of Belgium, who is leading the largest Belgian trade mission to California in its history. California and Belgium are important trading partners and share close economic, academic and cultural ties.

The two delegations held a bilateral meeting that focused on the innovation economy, clean energy and opportunities to advance mutually important sectors like aerospace and semiconductors. California and Belgium signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to facilitate trade, entrepreneurship, business engagement, and strengthen the innovation ecosystem. Text of the MOU is available here.

What the partnership does

Promotes mutually beneficial trade and economic development by facilitating entrepreneurship, business engagement, and trade promotion.
Strengthens innovation ecosystems through public–private collaboration, academic and research exchange, and joint development projects.
Advances partnerships across sectors by fostering private sector, government-to-government, and public–private collaborations within key industries.
Facilitates knowledge and policy exchange by sharing best practices, promoting information exchange, and supporting dialogues, delegations, and regional partnerships.

A strong trade partnership

In 2024, two-way trade between California and Belgium totaled $3.3 billion, with California exports to Belgium increasing by more than 10%. California’s top exports to Belgium include pharmaceuticals and medicine, manufactured commodities like medical equipment, and electronics. With nearly $900 million in imports to California, the state ranks as one of the top American importers of Belgian products. Belgium is also a significant source of direct foreign investment for California, with Belgian-owned companies supporting more than 4,300 jobs across various sectors and regions in California.