The State of Belgium and VFS Global extended their visa application services for Belgium to Ahmedabad, with the opening today of the Belgian Visa Application Centre. Karl Van den Bossche, Consul General of Belgium in Mumbai inaugurated the new centre located at the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industries building at Ashram Road.
This new initiative is in continuation to the decision of extending such services to six new locations across India. Catering to the growing demand of Belgium bound travellers in the region, this strategic move is aimed at offering new services, facilities and benefits to visa applicants, and boost tourism, trade and investments, and bilateral ties with India.
The joint announcement was made Van den Bossche and Vishal Jairath, Regional Head – South Asia, VFS Global at a press conference held on the occasion of opening the new Belgian Visa Application Centre in the city.
Speaking on the occasion Van den Bossche said, “We are bringing our service closer to the public and business community, to enhance the user friendliness. We recognize the importance to open more Visa Application Centres in India, together with VFS Global who has been our trusted partner for many years. These centres will offer a high quality and expedient service to our applicants. We strive to return passports within 3 working days. With this initiative, Belgium further intensifies its cultural and economic ties with India. Ahmedabad is a logical choice to this end.”
He further stated, “In 2012 we received well over 5000 visa applications from Gujarat. The ties between Belgium and Gujarat are particularly strong, mainly thanks to the diamond trade but also more and more other sectors. Moreover a few thousand Gujaratis have made Belgium and specifically Antwerp their home. Next steps in our focus on India are the opening of a Consulate General in Chennai and the visit of a large business delegation headed by HRH Prince Philippe, Crown Prince of Belgium, to New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai on November 23-29. Also Belgium’s festival Europalia, one of Europe’s largest cultural events, will put India in the spotlights this year.”
In 2012, nearly 34000 visa applications were received from travellers in Western and Southern India by the Belgian Consulate in Mumbai. This increase over the last few years in Belgium bound travellers has encouraged the new initiative for expansion in the regions.
Jairath said, “It is our privilege to be the trusted partner to the Government of Belgium in providing services to facilitate visa application process for travellers in India. We are committed to provide professional and convenient services to all applicants applying for a Belgian visa in the region. VFS Global is privileged to be associated with the Government of Belgium in India since 2006, apart from nine other countries globally. This extension of our association with the Belgian Government reflects their faith in our abilities, and we are sure this will go a long way in forging a longstanding partnership with VFS Global.”
The VFS Global operated Schengen Visa Application Centre (SVAC) at Ahmedabad will accept visa applications for Belgium from applicants in the region.
