Egypt, Lebanon, Oman, Cyprus want to join: ‘Multiple routes’ key for IMEC amid Hormuz crisis, French envoy says | Today’s news
Egypt, Lebanon, Oman and Cyprus have expressed interest in joining the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), Gérard Mestrallet, the French president’s special envoy for IMEC, said on Tuesday. He spoke at the IMEC Ports Club working day in New Delhi together with Christophe Castaner, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Port of Marseille Fos.
Mestrallet, in India from October 5-7 to advance the IMEC project and France-India connectivity cooperation, said “multiple routes” are key for IMEC as disruptions and risks affect existing trade links, reinforcing the importance of developing alternative connectivity options linking India, the Middle East and Europe.
“We have eight signatories and they are heads of state. Only eight governments will decide on a possible extension. We hope that at the ministerial meeting we could decide on the extension of the IMEC circuit,” Mestrallet said at a press conference organized by the French embassy at ITC Maurya in New Delhi.
Mestrallet said an IMEC ministerial meeting is expected before the end of this year, where the eight existing signatories could consider expanding the corridor’s membership and geographic scope.
Read also | France says IMEC is “more necessary” amid Hormuz crisis
“IMEC is now considered a network of supplementary routes to make it more resilient. If there is a blockage, accident, technical problem or even a local crisis on one particular route, the other routes will be available,” Mestrallet said.
Mestrallet named Egypt, Lebanon and Oman among countries interested in cooperating with or joining IMEC. He also identified Greece and Cyprus as European countries that could be particularly interested in becoming full members.
Any formal extension would require a decision by the eight existing signatories, he said.
Mestrallet also clarified the position of Jordan and Israel, saying that both countries were mentioned in the original agreement but did not sign it. “They didn’t sign because they weren’t present. It’s Jordan and Israel, even though they were talked about,” he said.
No ministerial meeting has been held since the launch of IMEC
IMEC was announced in September 2023 during the G20 summit by India, the US, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, Italy and the European Union. The corridor envisages connecting India with Europe through the Middle East using shipping, rail and other connecting infrastructure.
Mestrallet said that IMEC discussions have been ongoing at the steering committee level since its inception, but no ministerial level meeting has yet taken place.
“We hope there will be a ministerial meeting by the end of this year because meanwhile since the inception of IMEC, there has only been a steering committee and not a ministerial committee,” he said.
He emphasized that the ministerial meeting could therefore provide an opportunity for the participating governments to consider expanding the corridor.
Full Members or Associate Partners
Mestrallet said IMEC will have to work with countries and ports outside the existing group, regardless of whether they eventually become full members.
“In any case, members or non-members, we will have to work with them because they want to work positively, so we have to work with them to find the best possible method – to be a full member, an associate member or something else,” he said.
Gaza, Iran and Hormuz Make IMEC ‘More Necessary’
Mestrallet said geopolitical crises in the Middle East have increased the need for a flexible connectivity corridor.
“The difficulties – October 7, Gaza, Iran, Hormuz – have even increased the need to have a resilient corridor that offers several options to the market,” Mestrallet said at the event.
He said the disruptions and risks affecting existing trade routes reinforced the importance of developing alternative connectivity options linking India, the Middle East and Europe.
