Adani Ports & SEZ and Marseille Fos Forge IMEC Alliance to Boost India–Europe Trade

By Admin

19 Feb, 2026

In a landmark development for global trade connectivity, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) and Port of Marseille Fos have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in trade facilitation, port innovation, and energy transition.

This strategic collaboration marks a major step forward in operationalizing the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), reinforcing connectivity between India and the European Union.

Strategic Partnership Strengthening IMEC

The MoU was signed during the visit of Emmanuel Macron, highlighting the expanding India–France strategic partnership and aligning it with the broader IMEC and India–EU trade vision. IMEC, launched at the 2023 G20 Summit in New Delhi, is a 6,000-km multimodal connectivity initiative integrating maritime routes, rail networks, digital systems, and clean-energy pathways to link India and Europe.

This agreement completes the IMEC pathway for India–EU trade, further strengthened by the recently concluded India–EU Free Trade Agreement, described as “the mother of all deals” by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi.

Bridging the Eastern and Western Gateways

On the eastern gateway of IMEC, APSEZ’s ports at Mundra and Hazira serve as powerful multimodal logistics hubs connecting South Asia to West Asia. Mundra, India’s largest commercial port, already plays a crucial role in facilitating seamless cargo movement across global markets.

Through this MoU, Marseille Fos reinforces the western European gateway of the corridor, contributing approximately 70 million tonnes of capacity and extending IMEC’s reach deeper into Europe. As one of Europe’s largest integrated multimodal port ecosystems, Marseille Fos ensures a structured and coordinated pathway to enhance India–EU trade flows.

Together, the two ports now connect the final leg of the IMEC trade route creating a comprehensive corridor from India to Europe.

Key Focus Areas of the Partnership

The partnership between APSEZ and Marseille Fos will focus on:

Promoting IMEC as a Global Trade Alternative
The two ports will jointly promote IMEC as a sustainable, secure, and competitive alternative for Eurasian trade flows. This includes participation in international trade fairs, roadshows, targeted B2B engagements, and collaborative marketing campaigns.

Port Digitalisation and Innovation
The MoU emphasizes technical exchange and capacity building in port digitalisation, smart-port platforms, data interoperability, cybersecurity, alternative fuels, shore power supply, and low-carbon bunkering.

Developing the Mundra–Marseille Fos Green Maritime Corridor
A major highlight of the partnership is the development of a Green Maritime Corridor between Mundra and Marseille Fos. This initiative aims to reduce carbon emissions, encourage clean fuel adoption, and promote sustainable shipping practices across the IMEC route.

Co-founding the IMEC Ports Club
The two ports will co-found an IMEC Ports Club to institutionalize dialogue among corridor ports. This platform will coordinate inputs for policy discussions, investment frameworks, and infrastructure planning that support IMEC’s long-term success.

Leadership Perspectives

Mr. Ashwani Gupta, Whole-time Director & CEO of APSEZ, emphasized India’s leadership role in advancing IMEC and highlighted the transformative potential of the India–EU Free Trade Agreement. He noted that APSEZ’s ports at Hazira and Mundra have already established seamless connectivity across the first and middle legs of the corridor. With Marseille Fos now connected, the final European link is secured accelerating information exchange, strengthening economic cooperation, and enhancing supply-chain resilience.

Mr. Hervé Martel, CEO of the Port of Marseille Fos, described the agreement as timely, as IMEC enters a decisive phase. He underscored the responsibility shared by India and Marseille as the two extremities of this future trade backbone. Together, both ports aim to mobilize corridor stakeholders and advocate for a more efficient, resilient, and sustainable trade connection between their regions.

Transforming India–Europe Trade Dynamics

This collaboration is more than a bilateral port agreement it is a strategic move to reshape Eurasian trade architecture. By integrating advanced port technologies, sustainable practices, and coordinated logistics frameworks, APSEZ and Marseille Fos are positioning IMEC as a powerful alternative to traditional trade routes.

With enhanced capacity, structured cooperation, and policy alignment, the India–Europe trade corridor is set for significant expansion. The IMEC alliance reflects a shared vision of resilience, sustainability, and innovation paving the way for stronger economic integration between India and the European Union.

As IMEC transitions from concept to execution, the APSEZ–Marseille Fos partnership stands as a cornerstone of this transformative global trade corridor.