The IMEC will comprise two separate corridors - the East Corridor connecting India to West Asia and the Northern Corridor connecting West Asia to Europe
The first visit by an inter-ministerial delegation from India to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has set the ball rolling for the development of the proposed India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

The visit, to hold meetings under the Inter-Governmental Framework Agreement (IGFA) on Cooperation for the empowerment and operation of the India-Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), took place from May 15 to May 17, 2024.

"India Middle East Europe Corridor (IMEC) takes shape with the 1st visit of an Indian Inter-Ministerial Delegation to the UAE for the India-UAE Intergovernmental Framework Agreement on IMEEC. Amb @sunjaysudhir led the discussions with key UAE entities like @DPWorldUAE, @ADPortsGroup @CUSTOMSUAE," the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi posted on X, formerly Twitter. 

Extensive discussions are critical to ensure that the proposed corridor provides a reliable and cost-effective cross-border ship to rail transit network to supplement existing maritime routes. The corridor will also include electricity and digital connectivity as well as facilities for the movement of clean hydrogen along the rail network.

The IMEC will comprise two separate corridors - the East Corridor connecting India to West Asia and the Northern Corridor connecting West Asia to Europe. This will enable goods and services to transit to, from, and between India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, and Europe.

India, the United States, UAE, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, Italy and the European Union signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the IMEC during the G20 Summit in New Delhi in September 2023.

An Inter-Governmental Framework Agreement (IGFA) on Cooperation for the empowerment and operation of the India-Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) was subsequently signed between the governments of India and UAE on February 13, 2024. The signing took place in Abu Dhabi, in the presence of visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. 

The agreement provides for cooperation to ensure the development of the IMEC. It also seeks to explore potential joint investment and technical collaboration towards this objective.

The (Indian delegation's) visit, which took place within three months of signing the Agreement, reflects the importance both governments attach to the IMEEC project, the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi said in a press statement. 

According to the embassy, the Indian delegation comprised officials from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Central Board of Excise and Customs, and Deen Dayal Upadhyay Port, Kandla (in Gujarat, India). They visited the Khalifa Port, Fujairah Port and Jebel Ali Port for discussions with the respective port authorities regarding the transport of goods from India to the UAE and beyond. The officials also held talks with the UAE customs authorities.

Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha on February 8, 2024, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said the corridor intends to increase efficiency, reduce costs, secure regional supply chains, increase trade accessibility, enhance economic cooperation, generate jobs and lower greenhouse gas emission, resulting in a transformative integration of Asia, Europe and the Middle East (West Asia).