France’s Gerard Mestrallet hails IMEC as the 21st century’s most transformative infrastructure plan to unite Europe, the Middle East, and India
From his office near the Arc de Triomphe, Gerard Mestrallet — former Engie CEO and now President Macron’s special envoy for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) — describes the ambitious plan as “the most important infrastructure project of the 21st century” , reported thenationalnews.com.
The corridor aims to solidify trade links between Europe, India, and the Middle East through a combination of maritime routes and northern railways, stretching 6,400km. Alongside this, infrastructure will support digital cables, clean hydrogen pipelines, and future-ready power grids. As global trade realigns amid geopolitical shifts, Europe and the UAE have also started formal Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks, adding new weight to the corridor’s relevance.
IMEC’s twin corridors and digital-hydrogen focus promise to boost trade, reduce transit time, and connect economies across three continents
Despite a stall after the Israel-Gaza conflict in late 2023, Mestrallet remains optimistic, emphasizing IMEC’s long-term geopolitical value and its alignment with both the Abraham Accords and EU-India ambitions for a long-awaited free trade deal. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen even dubbed IMEC a “modern golden road” during a speech in New Delhi, highlighting its potential for green and digital transformation.
France’s shipping giant CMA CGM and IT consultancy Capgemini are already preparing to play pivotal roles, while ports in Greece and Italy vie to become the European gateway for this corridor. The UAE and India have also deepened ties with a virtual trade corridor, a model Mestrallet suggests could simplify customs and be extended to the IMEC rail network.
Egypt, too, has expressed interest in joining IMEC, with President Macron supporting its potential role as an alternative Mediterranean hub, particularly through Alexandria. As Red Sea shipping lanes face increasing threats, IMEC’s overland rail offers both speed and security for high-value trade.
While questions over governance, financing, and route finalization persist — with only Saudi Arabia pledging $20 billion so far — Mestrallet stresses the need for international coordination through a permanent secretariat and steering committee. The hope is to transition IMEC from concept to concrete action this year, establishing it as a reliable trade bridge and a stabilizing force in global geopolitics.