In a significant development for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ) has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with France’s Port of Marseille Fos to strengthen trade connectivity between India and the European Union.

The agreement was signed during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to India, marking a key step in advancing the ambitious IMEC project.

The IMEC initiative was also discussed during bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Macron on February 17. The corridor was jointly announced at the G20 Summit in September 2023 by India, France, the United States, the UAE, Italy and other partners. The project is widely seen as a strategic alternative to China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative.

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IMEC is a proposed 6,000-kilometre multimodal connectivity corridor linking India to Europe through the Middle East. The project includes maritime routes, rail networks, digital infrastructure and energy connectivity.

Under the plan, Adani Ports’ Mundra and Hazira ports will function as the eastern gateways of IMEC, connecting South Asia with West Asia. The Port of Marseille Fos will serve as the western European gateway of the corridor.

With an additional cargo handling capacity of around 70 million tonnes, Marseille Fos is expected to extend IMEC’s reach deeper into Europe and facilitate stronger India-EU trade flows. The development gains further importance in light of the recent India-European Union Free Trade Agreement.

APSEZ CEO Ashwani Gupta said India has taken the lead in advancing the corridor and that trade between India and the EU is expected to rise significantly following the FTA.

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“Mundra and Hazira ports already connect the first and middle phases of the corridor. This MoU with Marseille Fos connects the final phase to Europe, accelerating the exchange of goods and information among participating nations and strengthening economic cooperation,” Gupta said.


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