Let’s proceed with IMEC despite Gaza war, Greek PM tells India

Contact Counsellor

Last Updated23/02/2024

India and Greece should persevere with the “peace project”, said the Greek Prime Minister in New Delhi.

Greek prime minister said that Despite the Israeli war in Gaza “destabilising” plans for the India-Middle East Economic Corridor (IMEC)
“The war in Gaza and turmoil in the Middle East is undoubtedly destabilising but it does not undermine the powerful logic behind IMEC.
“Launched during India’s G-20 chairmanship, the IMEC corridor will contribute significantly to the development of humanity in the long run.
the founding members of the initiative, including India, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Mauritius, the UAE and Saudi Arabia,
- Have been unable to meet, as stipulated by the MoU for the past six months due to the conflict in Gaza.
Israel’s Haifa port, owned by India’s Adani Group, was expected to be a key trading point for the ship-and-rail route proposed under IMEC from India’s west coast,
- Through the UAE and Saudi Arabia to Jordan and Israel, before reaching Greece’s Piraeus Port and on to the rest of Europe.

The proposed IMEC will consist of Railroad, Ship-to-Rail networks and Road transport routes extending across two corridors, that is,
- The East Corridor – connecting India to the Arabian Gulf,
- The Northern Corridor – connecting the Gulf to Europe.
The IMEC corridor will also include an electricity cable, a hydrogen pipeline and a high-speed data cable.
India, the US, Saudi Arabia, UAE, the European Union, Italy, France, and Germany are signatories.

India: Mundra (Gujarat), Kandla (Gujarat), and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (Navi Mumbai).
Middle East: Fujairah, Jebel Ali, and Abu Dhabi in the UAE as well as Dammam and Ras Al Khair ports in Saudi Arabia.
Railway line will connect Fujairah port (UAE) to Haifa port (Israel) via: Saudi Arabia (Ghuwaifat and Haradh) and Jordan.
Israel: Haifa port.
Europe: Piraeus port in Greece, Messina in South Italy, and Marseille in France.