Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) and the Port of Marseille Fos have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening co-operation in trade facilitation, port innovation and energy transition, marking a significant milestone in the India–European Union leg of the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
The agreement was formalised during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron, underscoring the strategic dimension of India–France economic relations and reinforcing connectivity between India and the European Union.
Under the MoU, the two ports intend to collaborate on the proposed establishment of an “IMEC Ports Club”, designed to co-ordinate major ports along the corridor and enhance operational alignment. The agreement also advances plans for a Green Maritime Corridor linking Mundra and Marseille Fos, with a focus on decarbonisation and sustainable shipping practices.
Both sides indicated that the partnership would promote technical collaboration in areas including digitalisation, cybersecurity, alternative fuels and low-carbon bunkering solutions. These measures are expected to contribute to the long-term sustainability objectives embedded within IMEC.
Marseille Fos is positioned to serve as the corridor’s western European gateway, adding approximately 70 million tonnes of capacity and extending the initiative’s reach deeper into continental Europe. On the eastern side, APSEZ’s Mundra and Hazira ports are set to anchor operations, forming a multimodal hub connecting South Asia to West Asia.
The 6,000-kilometre IMEC initiative, launched at the 2023 G20 Summit in New Delhi, seeks to integrate maritime, rail, digital and clean energy networks to streamline trade flows between India and Europe. The latest agreement is viewed as a concrete step towards operationalising that vision.
