Which country became the first to open an honorary consulate office in Gujarat International Finance Tec City (GIFT City)?

Introduction / Context:
Gujarat International Finance Tec City, commonly known as GIFT City, is India first operational smart city and international financial services centre. Several foreign governments and institutions have shown interest in establishing a presence there. This question asks which country became the first to open an honorary consulate office in GIFT City, an event that reflects growing international engagement with this financial hub.

Given Data / Assumptions:
The given information is:
1. The location is Gujarat International Finance Tec City, or GIFT City, in India.
2. We are asked to name the first country that opened an honorary consulate office there.
3. The options are France, Portugal, Spain and Belgium.
4. We assume that the event was reported in business and diplomatic news as a notable development in India external relations and financial sector growth.

Concept / Approach:
The concept being tested is knowledge of international diplomacy and economic cooperation. Countries sometimes establish honorary consulates, which are smaller representations than full embassies, in important commercial hubs. The approach is to recall that Belgium, a European country with a strong presence in trade and finance, was the first to open such an honorary consulate office in GIFT City. None of the other listed countries were reported as taking this step first in the context of GIFT City.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Consider each of the four European countries in the options and their known trade ties with India. Step 2: France, Portugal and Spain have various economic links with India, but there is no widely cited news about them being the first to set up an honorary consulate in GIFT City. Step 3: Belgium has a history of engagement in trading and financial services and chose GIFT City as a location for an honorary consulate office to strengthen business ties. Step 4: News reports and government announcements described Belgium as the first country to open such an office in GIFT City. Step 5: Therefore, Belgium is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, you can recall or look up summaries of diplomatic and business news that highlight Belgium steps to deepen cooperation with India through GIFT City. These sources explicitly mention that Belgium was the first country to establish an honorary consulate office there. The absence of similar first in GIFT City references for France, Portugal and Spain confirms that Belgium has the distinction highlighted in the question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
France: While France has significant investments and partnerships in India, it was not the first country to open an honorary consulate office in GIFT City, so this option is incorrect.
Portugal: Portugal has historic ties with parts of India such as Goa, but it was not reported as the first to set up an honorary consulate office in GIFT City.
Spain: Spain also has trade relations with India but did not hold the distinction of being first in this specific context, so this option is wrong.

Common Pitfalls:
A common pitfall is to select a more widely known European power such as France simply because it feels familiar, without recalling the specific news event. Candidates may also guess based on historical associations with India, for example by choosing Portugal due to its colonial history in Goa. However, the question is about a modern financial and diplomatic step linked to GIFT City, where Belgium is the correct and documented first mover. Careful reading of business and diplomatic current affairs can help avoid these mistakes.

Final Answer:
Belgium was the first country to open an honorary consulate office in Gujarat International Finance Tec City.