Steven De Wilde, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Belgium, recently spoke to students at the Bharti Institute of Public Policy in Hyderabad. He discussed how Belgium’s transition from a centralized to a federal state is similar to India’s federal system, helping with governance and international cooperation.
The students were participating in a three-day annual ‘Policy Walk’ in New Delhi, where they explored various policy issues. De Wilde emphasized the multifaceted economic relationship between Belgium and India, particularly in sectors like renewable energy, technology, and trade.
The students had insightful discussions on topics such as social impact, rural sanitation, bilateral ties between India and Belgium, and effective governance practices. BVR Subrahmanyam from NITI Aayog stressed the importance of using data to assess performance at different levels.
Dr. R Balasubramaniam discussed transforming India’s civil services after the 1991 reforms, focusing on citizen-centric governance and embracing technology for better performance. The students also heard from Jaya Varma Sinha, CEO of the Railway Board, about the crucial role of Indian Railways in the economy.
