India, UAE Hold Talks to Advance Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor

India recently sent a delegation to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the first time to engage in discussions with key entities regarding the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC).

Background on IMEEC:

1. Announcement:
   1. IMEEC was announced on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in New Delhi.
   2. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the European Union and 7 countries: India, the US, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, France, Germany, and Italy.
2. Purpose:
   1. To provide a reliable and cost-effective cross-border ship-to-rail transit network, supplementing existing maritime routes.
   2. To aim for increased efficiency, reduced costs, secured regional supply chains, enhanced trade accessibility, improved economic cooperation, job creation, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
3. Corridor Structure:
   1. IMEEC comprises 2 separate corridors:
      1. The east corridor connects India to the Gulf.
      2. The northern corridor connects the Gulf to Europe.
4. Connectivity Details:
   1. The corridor will include:
      1. A shipping route connecting Mumbai and Mundra (Gujarat) with the UAE.
      2. A rail network connecting the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan with the Israeli port of Haifa, reaching the Mediterranean Sea.
      3. Haifa will be connected by sea to the port of Piraeus in Greece and eventually to Europe.
5. Beyond Transport:
   1. In addition to transport infrastructure, the corridor will involve:
      1. Undersea cables to facilitate data exchange.
      2. Long-distance hydrogen pipelines to support climate and decarbonization goals.