What is India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC)?

About India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC):

• It is a connectivity project that seeks to develop a seamless infrastructure of ports, railways, roads, sea lines, and pipelines to enhance trade among India, the Arabian Peninsula, the Mediterranean region, and Europe.
• It was announced in 2023 on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in New Delhi when a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the European Union and seven countries, namely India, the US, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), France, Germany, and Italy.
• The IMEC will comprise two separate corridors, the eastern corridor connecting India to the Arabian Gulf and the northern corridor connecting the Gulf to Europe.
• Upon completion, the corridor will have a cost-effective and reliable cross-border railway network, which will be supplemented by the available road transport and maritime routes.
• The corridor will include a shipping route connecting Mumbai and Mundra (Gujarat) with the UAE and a rail network connecting the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan with the Israeli port of Haifa to reach the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
• Haifa will then be connected by sea to the port of Piraeus in Greece to eventually be connected to Europe.
• In addition, along the corridor, the countries will also lay the network of electricity grids, optical fiber cable for digital connectivity, and pipeline for the transportation of hydrogen gas. 
• It intends to increase efficiency, reduce costs, secure regional supply chains, increase trade accessibility, enhance economic cooperation, generate jobs, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
• The corridor will be supported by the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), a US-led initiative to bridge the infrastructure gap in developing countries. 

Q1: What is the aim of the India Middle East Europe Corridor (IMEC)?

IMEC seeks to develop a seamless infrastructure of ports, railways, roads, sea lines, and pipelines to enhance trade among India, the Arabian Peninsula, the Mediterranean region, and Europe.

Source: ET

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