The ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEEC) gained significant momentum following high-level discussions between Indian and UAE officials in Abu Dhabi this week, marking a major step forward for the transcontinental connectivity project.
A delegation led by T.K. Ramachandaran, Secretary of India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, held talks with Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports. The Indian delegation included Ambassador Sunjay Sudhir and senior officials from RITES Ltd, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, and Deendayal Port Authority.
The IMEEC, launched during the G-20 Summit in New Delhi in September 2023, is a transcontinental connectivity initiative with signatories including India, UAE, USA, EU, Saudi Arabia, France, Italy, and Germany. Together, these nations represent nearly 50% of global GDP.
A key focus of the discussions was the Master Application for International Trade and Regulatory Interface (MAITRI), which was launched during Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s visit to India in September 2024. MAITRI aims to integrate existing trade portals from both countries, providing seamless and paperless connectivity.
The platform will incorporate India’s National Logistics Portal-Marine, Indian Customs Electronic Gateway, and Unified Logistics Interface Platform with corresponding UAE systems. Development responsibilities have been assigned to RITES and C-DAC, who are collaborating with major Indian ports.
MAITRI will support the Virtual Trade Corridor (VTC), another initiative launched during the Crown Prince’s visit. The VTC is expected to bolster bilateral trade between India and the UAE, which currently exceeds US$85 billion annually.
A preparatory workshop was held in Mumbai on February 27, with participation from India’s Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, Abu Dhabi Ports, DP World, and other UAE stakeholders.The IMEEC project promises to be one of the shortest trade routes from India to Europe, supporting economic integration across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
Beyond transportation infrastructure, the corridor will facilitate energy and digital connectivity, including an electrical grid between the UAE and India for solar power transmission. Both countries are also advancing cooperation on green hydrogen and public digital infrastructure.
The UAE segment of the corridor will terminate at Ghweifat on the UAE-Saudi Arabia border, from where a rail link will transport cargo through Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and into Israel.The project’s strategic importance was recently underscored during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with US President Donald Trump, with the corridor featuring prominently in the joint statement issued after their discussions.
