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California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a new international partnership with Belgium designed to expand economic relations, encourage investment, and advance research and innovation across key industries, including clean technologies.
The announcement came during a high-profile meeting in San Francisco, where Newsom and a California delegation welcomed Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid, Princess of Belgium, who is leading the largest Belgian trade mission to California in the country’s history. The visit underscores the growing economic and scientific ties between California—the world’s fourth-largest economy—and Belgium, one of Europe’s leading centers for innovation, sustainability, and research.
During the bilateral meeting, the two delegations discussed shared priorities including clean energy transition, aerospace, semiconductor development, and the innovation economy. Both sides emphasized the importance of building resilient, sustainable supply chains and encouraging investment that supports jobs, economic growth, and climate action.
As part of the meeting, California and Belgium signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will guide future collaboration between the two economies. The agreement seeks to promote entrepreneurship, strengthen trade relations, support academic and research exchange, and deepen public–private cooperation in emerging industries.
“There’s no better place to do business than right here in California, the world’s fourth-largest economy,” Newsom said. “We’re proud to welcome Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid and Belgium’s largest trade mission to our state in history. At its core, our work together proves California remains a stable, reliable partner on the global stage.”
Belgium’s Ambassador to the United States, Frédéric Bernard, highlighted the significance of the mission in deepening transatlantic ties. “The Belgian economic mission to California is part of a strong and sustainable tradition of transatlantic cooperation,” Bernard said. “Belgium, being a hub for innovation, sustainability, and creativity, is happy to build lasting ties, seize opportunities, and fortify a concrete, balanced, and resilient partnership with the United States.”
According to the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, the partnership aims to promote mutually beneficial trade and economic development by facilitating entrepreneurship, business engagement, and trade promotion. It also seeks to strengthen innovation ecosystems through public–private collaboration, academic partnerships, and joint research and development projects that connect experts and institutions from both regions.
The agreement will also advance cross-sector partnerships between government and industry in key fields such as renewable energy, life sciences, and technology. In addition, it will facilitate knowledge and policy exchange by promoting best practices, encouraging the sharing of information, and supporting ongoing delegations, dialogues, and regional cooperation to deepen ties between California and Belgium.
California and Belgium already maintain strong trade ties. In 2024, two-way trade between the two economies totaled $3.3 billion, with California exports to Belgium increasing by more than 10%. The state’s top exports include pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, manufactured commodities, and electronics. With nearly $900 million in imports from Belgium last year, California ranks among the top U.S. destinations for Belgian goods.
Belgium is also a significant source of foreign direct investment for California, with Belgian-owned companies supporting more than 4,300 jobs across multiple sectors, including technology, manufacturing, and logistics.
The Newsom administration has made international partnerships a key part of its strategy to strengthen California’s economy while addressing global challenges such as climate change and energy transition. Previous agreements have been signed with countries including Japan, China, and Canada to promote clean technology, renewable energy, and sustainable development.
Officials from both delegations said the new MOU will serve as a framework for future cooperation, including the exchange of delegations, trade missions, and collaborative innovation projects between California and Belgian institutions.