<p>Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. (APSEZ) and France’s Port of Marseille Fos have launched the IMEC Ports Club, an initiative designed to strengthen maritime cooperation and improve trade connectivity between India, the Middle East and Europe. The platform seeks to bring together port authorities, logistics companies and other industry stakeholders to support the development of more coordinated and efficient international supply chains along the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).</p><p>The initiative builds on a strategic partnership between APSEZ and the Port of Marseille Fos aimed at promoting cooperation in port operations, trade facilitation, innovation and energy transition. By establishing a dedicated platform for collaboration, the two organisations intend to encourage regular dialogue among maritime stakeholders and identify practical opportunities to improve cargo movement between key trading regions.</p><p>The first IMEC Ports Club workshops were held in New Delhi on 6 October 2026. Participating stakeholders adopted a joint declaration and began work on pilot projects intended to advance the corridor’s development. The discussions marked an effort to translate the broader vision of IMEC into practical initiatives, with a roadmap extending through 2027–28 to guide further cooperation and implementation.</p><p>Announced during the G20 Summit in New Delhi in September 2023, IMEC envisages a multimodal transport network linking India with Europe through the Middle East. The proposed corridor combines maritime connections with rail infrastructure and supporting logistics networks. Its broader objective is to facilitate trade, improve connectivity between participating economies and provide additional options for transporting goods across international markets.</p><p>The Ports Club has identified several areas for cooperation, including supply chain optimisation, trade facilitation, digital interoperability and low-carbon energy connectivity. Improved information exchange and compatible digital systems could help participating ports coordinate cargo handling, documentation and logistics planning. Cooperation on sustainable energy infrastructure could also support the maritime sector’s efforts to reduce emissions and improve environmental performance.</p><p>The initiative is intended to encourage participation from a wider network of maritime and logistics organisations across the Middle East and Europe. Greater coordination among ports and industry stakeholders could help address operational challenges, identify infrastructure requirements and develop collaborative solutions for cargo movement. Such cooperation is particularly relevant for businesses seeking reliable transport links between manufacturing centres in India and consumer markets across Europe and West Asia.</p><p>For India, the corridor could create opportunities to strengthen the role of ports such as Mundra and Hazira in international trade networks. Marseille Fos offers connections to Mediterranean shipping routes and European inland markets, providing a potential gateway for cargo moving between the regions. However, the practical benefits will depend on infrastructure development, commercial arrangements, regulatory coordination and the successful implementation of the proposed projects.</p><p>The launch of the IMEC Ports Club represents an organisational step towards closer maritime cooperation rather than the completion of the corridor itself. The next phase will focus on developing pilot projects, coordinating participating stakeholders and identifying workable approaches to port integration and trade facilitation. If these efforts progress, the initiative could contribute to more efficient, connected and sustainable trade links between India, the Middle East and Europe.</p>