India-EU to take concrete steps to make the IMEEC a reality
IMEC is an important initiative that can add to India’s maritime security and faster movement of goods between Europe and Asia.
NEW DELHI : India and the European Union will take concrete steps to make the proposed India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) a reality, including through a review meeting with partners in the initiative.
The decision was announced after talks between visiting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in New Delhi On Friday (February 28, 2025). She has visited India with the European Union College of Commissioners.
Speaking at the Plenary Session with the President of the European Commission, Prime Minister Modi said the IMEC Corridor was a transformational initiative. “Both the teams must continue working on it with strong commitment,” he remarked.
The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC), which aims at integration of Asia, Europe and the Middle East, involves multiple stakeholders. It was announced by India, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, UAE and the US on the sidelines of the New Delhi G20 Summit on September 9, 2023.
It is an important initiative that can add to India’s maritime security and faster movement of goods between Europe and Asia. The IMEEC will comprise two separate corridors, the east corridor connecting India to the Gulf and northern corridor connecting Gulf to Europe.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the corridor will provide a reliable and cost-effective cross-border ship to rail transit network to supplement existing maritime routes.
It intends to increase efficiency, reduce costs, secure regional supply chains, increase trade accessibility, enhance economic cooperation, generate jobs and lower greenhouse gas emission, resulting in a transformative integration of Asia, Europe and the Middle East (West Asia)
The Leaders’ Statement issued after the meeting between President Ursula von der Leyen and President Modi also said India and the EU would deepen their cooperation in the framework of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT 2.0), and Global Biofuels Alliance.
Prime Minister Modi highlighted cooperation in technology and innovation. “To realise our shared vision of tech sovereignty, we must continue to make swift progress ahead. In areas such as DPI, AI, Quantum Computing, Space and 6G, both parties must work together to connect our industries, innovators, and young talents,” he stated.
Prime Minister Modi also referred to Climate Action and Green Energy Innovation. “India and the EU have prioritised the Green transition. Through cooperation in sustainable urbanization, water, and clean energy, we can become drivers of global green growth,” he said.
This is President Ursula von der Leyen’s third visit to India. She has earlier visited India for a bilateral official visit in April 2022, and to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit in September 2023. Prime Minister Modi and President Ursula von der Leyen have also met regularly on the sidelines of multilateral meetings.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), this is the first-ever visit of the EU College of Commissioners together to India and among the first such visits since the start of the mandate of the current European Commission in December 2024 after the European parliamentary elections held in June 2024.