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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4651
ANSWERED ON 20.03.2026
OPERATIONALISATION OF IMEC AND INDIA-EU FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
4651. SHRI SASIKANTH SENTHIL:
Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state:
प(cid:517)न,पोत प(cid:303)रवहन और जलमाग(cid:330) मं(cid:361)ी
(a) whether the Government has formalised the “IMEC Ports Club” following the recent
MoU between Indian ports and the Port of Marseille Fos to strengthen the India-Middle
East-Europe corridor;
(b) the current status of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and its projected
impact on the corridor’s trade volume as of February 2026;
(c) whether there is a proposal for an “IMEC Plus” to include African nations as part of
a global value-added production chain; and
(d) the details of the strategic role of the India-UAE axis in underwriting national mega-
projects through sovereign wealth funds in 2026?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
(SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)
(a) to (d) On the sidelines of the G20 Leaders' Summit, the leaders of India, European
Union, France, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, UAE and US announced an MoU
committing to work together to develop a new India-Middle East Europe Economic
Corridor (IMEC). The IMEC will comprise of two separate corridors, the east corridor
connecting India to the Gulf and the northern corridor connecting the Gulf to Europe.
An Intergovernmental Framework Agreement (IGFA) was signed on 13 February 2024
between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) concerning cooperation for
operation of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). The main
elements include development and management of a logistics platform, including a
digital ecosystem, and provision of supply chain services. Its implementation involves
multiple stakeholders and is at an initial stage.JNPA which is a Major Port Authority has signed a MoU with the Port of Marseille Fos
on 17.02.2026 with provision of mutual cooperation and knowledge.
India and European Union announced the conclusion of negotiations for a Free Trade
Agreement at the 16th India-EU Summit on 27.01.2026.
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