India and France have taken a decisive step toward operationalising the ambitious India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) with the signing of a strategic memorandum of understanding between Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited and Port of Marseille Fos.
The agreement, signed during French President Emmanuel Macron’s official visit to India, envisions the creation of an “IMEC Ports Club” — a collaborative platform aimed at coordinating major ports along the proposed corridor and enhancing trade connectivity between India and the European Union.
Advancing the IMEC Vision
First unveiled during the G20 Summit in 2023, IMEC is a 6,000-kilometre multimodal transport initiative linking Indian ports to Europe through the Middle East via integrated shipping and rail networks. The corridor is expected to reduce transit times by up to 40 per cent and logistics costs by nearly 30 per cent compared to existing trade routes.
Under the proposed framework, cargo would move from India’s western ports — including Mundra and Hazira, operated by Adani Ports, along with Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority — to Middle Eastern hubs such as Jebel Ali Port. From there, goods would be transported by rail across Saudi Arabia and Jordan to Haifa Port before crossing the Mediterranean into Europe, with Marseille Fos serving as a key gateway.
Marseille Fos is one of Europe’s largest integrated port ecosystems, while Mundra remains India’s largest commercial port, positioning both as anchor nodes in the emerging corridor.
Strategic and Geopolitical Significance
Analysts describe the development as a significant milestone in shaping what could become a major alternative trade architecture connecting South Asia and Europe — potentially rivaling China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
The agreement also aligns with broader diplomatic and strategic engagements during Macron’s visit. A day prior to the port MoU, President Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi renewed a 10-year defence cooperation pact and elevated bilateral ties to a “Special Global Strategic Partnership.” Areas of expanded collaboration include missile production, artificial intelligence, trade and taxation.
The ports partnership also builds on the recently concluded India–EU Free Trade Agreement, further integrating economic connectivity with strategic cooperation.
Ashwani Gupta, CEO of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited, said IMEC is poised to become a critical driver of trade expansion between India and the European Union, which recorded bilateral trade of US$136.5 billion in the financial year ended March 2025.
A Greener, Digitised Trade Backbone
Beyond physical connectivity, the IMEC Ports Club is expected to focus on port digitisation, green shipping initiatives and coordinated trade logistics. Stakeholders believe the integration of low-carbon shipping practices and smart port technologies will ensure compliance with evolving European sustainability standards while strengthening supply chain resilience.
With global trade patterns undergoing recalibration amid geopolitical shifts and tariff realignments, closer India–France–EU cooperation signals a broader move toward diversified and resilient supply chains.
As IMEC transitions from concept to implementation, the India–France port agreement is being seen as a pivotal step in transforming a geopolitical vision into a functioning Eurasian trade backbone.
