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Ahmedabad, Feb 18: Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) has entered into a partnership with the Port of Marseille Fos, recognized as France's leading port and a key gateway to the Mediterranean. This collaboration aims to enhance trade facilitation, promote port innovation, and support energy transition, thereby improving trade connectivity between India and Europe.

The signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlines the establishment of an IMEC Ports Club, which will enhance coordination among significant ports along the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), thereby strengthening ties between India and the European Union.

Initiated during the 2023 G20 Summit in New Delhi, the IMEC is a comprehensive 6,000-km multimodal connectivity project that links India to Europe through integrated maritime routes, rail networks, digital systems, and clean energy pathways.

According to Ashwani Gupta, Whole-time Director and CEO of APSEZ, "India has already taken a leadership role in advancing this corridor, and with the conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, trade between the participating countries is expected to grow manifold."

He further noted, "Our ports in Hazira and Mundra on India’s western coast have already established a seamless pathway across the first and middle legs of the corridor. With this MoU with the Port of Marseille Fos in France, we have now successfully connected the final leg to Europe. This partnership will significantly accelerate the exchange of information and materials among all participating nations, further strengthening economic cooperation and supply-chain resilience.”

This agreement finalizes the IMEC pathway for India-EU trade, which has been further enhanced by the Free Trade Agreement between India and the EU, referred to as ‘the mother of all deals’ by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The MoU was signed during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron, highlighting the growing strategic partnership between India and France.

Herve Martel, CEO of the Port of Marseille Fos, expressed, “We are pleased to strengthen our partnership with APSEZ at a moment when the IMEC corridor is entering a decisive phase. India and Marseille stand at the two extremities of this future trade backbone, giving both ports a major responsibility in structuring and energising this new route.”

Martel added, “Together, we intend to mobilise and federate the ports involved, and act as strong advocates of a more efficient, resilient and sustainable connection between our regions.”