A DIALOGUE CONNECTION BETWEEN BELGIUM AND KIZILAY
Belgium’s National Day was celebrated with a reception held at the Belgian residence in Ankara. Ambassador Hendrik Van de Velde, who hosted the event, described Kızılay, the neighborhood where their residence is located, as vibrant, connected, open, and ready for dialogue. “This home represents Belgium’s place in Europe and its openness to the world. Just like Kızılay,” he said.
M. Ferhat YÜKSEL / ANKARA
The reception, hosted by Belgium’s Ambassador to Türkiye, Hendrik Van de Velde, welcomed a wide range of guests from the diplomatic, business, and arts communities. Among the attendees were Ambassador Oya Tunga Çağlı, Director General for Southern and Western Europe at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş.
Ambassador Van de Velde began his speech by recalling his first impressions of Ankara. He spoke about a walk through Kızılay and drew a symbolic parallel between the energy of the district and Belgium’s position in Europe. Stressing that the residence is more than just a family home, Van de Velde said, “This house represents Belgium’s place in Europe and its openness to the world. Just like Kızılay, vibrant, connected, open, and ready for dialogue.”
PRINCESS ASTRID TO VISIT TÜRKİYE
Ambassador Van de Velde announced that Belgium will organize a Royal Economic Mission to Türkiye in 2026, led by Princess Astrid. Calling the visit “an exciting milestone,” he said the mission will include Ankara, Istanbul, and Izmir. “Belgian companies, entrepreneurs, and high-level officials working in sectors like energy, health, logistics, and sustainability will come together with their Turkish counterparts,” he stated.
A MEETING POINT
Highlighting the strong economic and human ties between Türkiye and Belgium, Ambassador Van de Velde emphasized the role both countries play as a point of convergence. He noted that bilateral trade reached €12.5 billion in 2024 and underlined Belgium’s position as one of the largest foreign investors in Türkiye. Referring to the nearly 300,000 people of Turkish origin living in Belgium, Van de Velde said, “They are no longer just part of our society, they have become our society.” He continued:
“Today, around 300,000 Belgians are of Turkish origin. They are teachers, artists, business owners, parliamentarians, footballers… They speak French, Flemish, and Turkish. They are both Belgian and Turkish.”
TARGET: $10 BILLION IN TRADE
In her speech, Ambassador Oya Tunga Çağlı also expressed excitement about Princess Astrid’s visit. “We believe the economic mission will bring fresh momentum to our relations,” she said. Çağlı noted that both commercial and strategic cooperation between the two countries continues to grow. She also referred to defense industry cooperation and NATO solidarity, stating that bilateral trade, which reached $8.3 billion in 2024, is expected to rise to $10 billion.
Later in the evening, guests enjoyed traditional Belgian cuisine. Belgian chocolates and beverages drew particular interest. The live Jazz performance added a vibrant note to the night.
