TRIESTE – Interest is growing around the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (Imec): a meeting is planned in Trieste in the coming months to bring the project closer to reality.
This was announced by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani during a recent meeting in New Delhi with Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. “The connection between India and Italy runs through Israel and the Gulf, and for this reason we will organize something in Trieste. A meeting – said Tajani – with all the foreign ministers involved in this project. It is very important to strengthen trade. Where there is trade, there are no weapons. It is important to work together on this new strategic partnership, on this new strategic corridor, both for us and for India and other countries. Trade is the future. In my plan for Italian trade, India is one of the most important partners. That’s why I’m very pleased. We are paving the way for good cooperation, not only between ministers, but also between Italian and Indian companies.” The announcement follows the recent appointment of Ambassador Francesco Maria Talò as Italy’s special envoy for the Imec project.
The corridor envisages an initial maritime leg, landfall in Saudi Arabia, a rail segment to Israeli ports, and from there another sea leg to the port of Trieste, from which rail connections can reach all of Eastern Europe and much of Southern Europe.
According to Indian news agency PTI, citing an anonymous official in Delhi, India and the European Union are also exploring the possibility of negotiating a free trade agreement in phases. Back in late February, during a visit to New Delhi, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had already stated: “A free trade agreement between the EU and India would be the largest of its kind in the world. I know it will not be easy. But I also know that timing and determination matter, and this partnership is arriving at the right moment for both sides.” According to von der Leyen, the EU and India have the potential to become one of the defining partnerships of this century. “India,” she emphasized, “can play a unique role as a bridge between the Global South and the rest of the world — between the Indo-Pacific and Europe. And Europe is ready to invest to help make this happen. Through Global Gateway, our €300 billion global infrastructure investment plan, we can fund projects for energy transport across India and between India and the world.” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also confirmed that India and the EU are working toward concluding a free trade agreement by 2025.
