Pranay Verma appointed India’s new Ambassador to Belgium and the EU

April 10, 2026

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday announced the appointment of senior diplomat Pranay Verma as India’s next Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium. He will also be accredited as India’s Ambassador to the European Union.

In a press release, the ministry said, “Mr. Pranay Verma (IFS: 1994), currently India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, has been appointed as India’s next Ambassador to Belgium. He will also be accredited as India’s Ambassador to the European Union.”

The ministry also informed that he will assume charge shortly.

Replaces Saurabh Kumar

Pranay Verma will replace Saurabh Kumar, who completed his term earlier this year. During his tenure in Brussels, Saurabh Kumar was also accredited as India’s Ambassador to the European Union and Luxembourg.

This appointment comes at a time when relations between India and Europe are rapidly strengthening, especially after the historic India-EU Free Trade Agreement signed in January.

Key Role in India-EU Trade Agreement

This agreement is expected to reduce tariffs by more than 90 percent, providing a major boost to trade between the two sides. The agreement covers trade accounting for approximately one-quarter of global GDP.

This will make Indian exports more competitive and could also reduce the prices of European products such as automobiles and wine in India.

According to officials, Pranay Verma will play a key role in securing passage of this agreement in the European Parliament, which involves complex legal procedures and translation into 27 languages.

Three decades of experience, current role in Bangladesh

The Indian Embassy in Brussels, established in 1948, is an important diplomatic hub for Belgium, Luxembourg, and the European Union.

Pranay Verma, a 1994 batch Indian Foreign Service officer, has over three decades of experience. He previously served as India’s Ambassador to Vietnam and is considered an expert on East Asian affairs.

He currently serves as India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh and is playing an active role in strengthening bilateral relations.

Recently, he met with Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and conveyed his commitment to furthering positive and constructive relations based on mutual interests.