Modern Silk Route: India Acts As Trusted Bridge Of IMEC; Hosts Key Stakeholders Of Global Economic Corridor
IMEC, launched during the G20 Summit in 2023, is viewed as a strategic counterweight to China’s Belt and Road Initiative
Including railways, roadways, energy pipelines, and clean energy infrastructure, even undersea cables, the mega India Middle-East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) is a powerful endorsement of the leadership and partnership of the stakeholders a very forward and visionary concept.
Moving in this direction, India on Thursday (August 7) successfully concluded a high-level diplomatic meeting to advance the IMEC. The mega economic corridor is a transcontinental connectivity initiative aimed at linking Asia, the Middle East, and Europe via rail, ports, and digital infrastructure.
The two-day dialogue, which began on Wednesday, was led by India’s National Security Council Secretariat, included envoys from the US, UAE, France, Italy, and other core IMEC members.
What is India-Middle East-Europe-Economic-Corridor (IMEC)?
IMEC, launched during the G20 Summit in New Delhi in 2023, is widely viewed as a strategic counterweight to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. It promises to reduce logistics costs by up to 30% and transportation time by 40%, according to Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. He described it as a “modern-day Silk Route” fostering inclusive prosperity.
European nations like Italy, France, and Greece have proposed key ports as entry points into the continent, reinforcing the corridor’s strategic and economic significance. Meanwhile, Jordan, Israel, Egypt, and Oman are emerging as pivotal partners due to their geographic positioning.
As India positions itself as a central node in global trade, IMEC reflects its ambition to shape future economic frameworks and deepen ties across regions. The corridor’s success now hinges on sustained diplomatic engagement and private sector participation.
Was US representative in the IMEC meeting?
Amid rising tensions over the Bilateral Trade Agreement and proposed 25% tariffs on U.S. imports from India, President Donald Trump’s top regional adviser, Ricky Gill, was also in New Delhi for IMEC meeting. Gill, who serves as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for South and Central Asia at the U.S. National Security Council, was invited by India’s National Security Council Secretariat.
How things were slipping after its announcement?
In an interview with the PTI, Italy’s envoy for IMEC, Francesco Talo’ said that such initiatives (this meeting) are needed, especially in times of volatility and uncertainty driven by global security challenges. Talo added, “less than a month after its launch in New Delhi in 2023, there was a terrible attack against Israel on October 7, and this impacted the project. Therefore, things were slipping, frozen. But, now there is a renewed interest.”
What Happened in the April 2025 Roundtable?
In April this year, the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal addressed the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) High-Level Roundtable on Connectivity and Economic Growth in New Delhi. Highlighting its potential reach, Goyal added that IMEC could even enhance connectivity to Africa through the Middle East.
Citing the example of India’s Unified Payment Interface (UPI) as a service to the IMEC member countries, Goyal also added that the corridor would include railways, roadways, energy pipelines, and clean energy infrastructure, including undersea cables. “India is already in discussions with Singapore on clean energy transmission. We are also engaged in dialogue with Saudi Arabia and the UAE,” he shared.
