India Appoints Pranay Verma as Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on 10 April 2026 that senior Indian Foreign Service officer Pranay Verma (IFS 1994) has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Belgium, with concurrent accreditation to the European Union. According to the official statement issued by the MEA, he will assume his responsibilities shortly. Verma succeeds Saurabh Kumar, who completed his tenure in Brussels earlier this year.

The announcement was made through an official press release published on the website of the Ministry of External Affairs (mea.gov.in), outlining the appointment and confirming that Verma will take up the assignment in due course.

India’s new envoy to the EU, experience meets opportunity.

Verma’s Extensive Diplomatic Experience

A career diplomat with over three decades of experience, Verma belongs to the 1994 batch of the Indian Foreign Service. He has held several key assignments across Asia and other regions, reflecting a broad range of diplomatic and policy expertise.

Most recently, he has been serving as India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh since September 2022. Prior to this, he was Ambassador of India to Vietnam from July 2019 to July 2022. His earlier roles include senior policy positions within the MEA, where he served as Joint Secretary in the East Asia Division (2017–19) and as Joint Secretary for External Relations in the Department of Atomic Energy.

Verma’s overseas assignments include postings in Hong Kong, San Francisco, Beijing, Kathmandu and Washington, D.C. He has also served as a staff officer to India’s Foreign Secretary and has been associated with climate-related negotiations. Academically, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Chinese language. He began his professional career in the private sector before joining the diplomatic service.

Strategic Context of the Appointment

Verma’s appointment comes at a time of continued engagement between India and the European Union. Both sides have been actively pursuing closer cooperation across a range of sectors, including trade, technology, connectivity and climate action.

Ongoing discussions on a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) remain a central component of the economic dialogue between India and the EU. In this context, the Ambassador’s role in Brussels—home to key EU institutions—is expected to involve sustained engagement with European counterparts to support these negotiations and broader policy coordination.

India–EU ties in numbers: trade, services, and strategic engagement

Robust Economic Partnership

The economic relationship between India and the European Union continues to expand steadily. In FY 2024–25, bilateral trade in goods reached approximately US$136.5 billion, making the EU India’s largest trading partner in goods. In addition, trade in services has shown consistent growth, with recent estimates placing it at over €60 billion annually.

Beyond trade, the partnership spans investment flows, research collaboration, digital innovation and climate-related initiatives, reflecting its multi-dimensional character.

Advancing India–EU Cooperation

Observers note that Verma’s assignment is likely to focus on strengthening institutional engagement and enhancing cooperation across sectors. His posting to Brussels underscores India’s intent to maintain close dialogue with EU institutions as well as individual member states.

In his previous diplomatic roles, Verma has emphasised the importance of constructive and mutually beneficial partnerships, reflecting India’s broader approach to international engagement. His experience in handling complex regional and multilateral issues is expected to contribute to advancing India’s priorities in Europe.

Forward Momentum in Brussels

As Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union, Verma will lead India’s diplomatic mission in Brussels, which is also accredited to Luxembourg. His tenure comes at a time when India–EU relations are gaining renewed momentum, with both sides seeking to deepen cooperation across economic and strategic domains.

With his extensive diplomatic background and experience in policy coordination, Verma is expected to play a key role in further strengthening India’s engagement with the European Union and its member states.