Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) and the Port of Marseille Fos in France have announced a partnership to strengthen trade facilitation, port innovation, and energy transition, aiming to enhance India-Europe trade connectivity. The collaboration includes the formation of an IMEC Ports Club to enhance coordination among key ports along the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) route, improving connectivity between India and the European Union.
The IMEC initiative, launched at the 2023 G20 Summit in New Delhi, is a 6,000-km multimodal connectivity project linking India and Europe through integrated maritime routes, rail networks, digital systems, and clean-energy pathways. Ashwani Gupta, Whole-time Director and CEO of APSEZ, highlighted India’s leadership in advancing this corridor and the expected growth in trade between participating countries following the conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement.
APSEZ’s ports in Hazira and Mundra on India’s western coast have already established connectivity across the first and middle legs of the corridor. By partnering with the Port of Marseille Fos in France, the final leg connecting to Europe has been successfully established. This collaboration is set to accelerate the exchange of information and materials among participating nations, strengthening economic cooperation and supply-chain resilience.
The completion of the IMEC pathway for India-EU trade, coupled with the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, has been hailed as a significant development, termed ‘the mother of all deals’ by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit, highlighting the deepening India-France strategic partnership.
Herve Martel, CEO of the Port of Marseille Fos, expressed enthusiasm about strengthening the partnership with APSEZ as the IMEC corridor enters a crucial phase. With India and Marseille positioned at the ends of this trade backbone, both ports play a vital role in structuring and energizing this new route. The collaboration aims to unite and support the involved ports, advocating for a more efficient, resilient, and sustainable connection between the regions.
