India: The United Arab Emirates has joined hands with the governments of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Member States of the European Union, the Republic of India, and the United States on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
The announcement was made in the presence of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of the 18th G20 Heads of State and Government Summit held in New Delhi, India, where the UAE is participating as a guest of honor.
The establishment of the corridor seeks to enhance connectivity and integration between participating countries. The initiative will be comprised of two different pathways: the east corridor connecting India to the Arabian Gulf and the northern corridor connecting the Arabian Gulf to Europe. The cross-border ship-to-rail transit corridors will reduce shipping costs across the network as well as facilitate trade in goods and services to, from, and between the UAE, Saudi Arabia, India, and Europe.
Participants will further assess the potential of electricity and clean hydrogen exports to enhance regional supply chains and connectivity. This comes as part of joint efforts to lower greenhouse gas emissions and integrate environmental conservation into the initiative.
The UAE’s cooperation on this initiative mirrors the country’s efforts to strengthen its international partnerships as well as contribute towards a sustainable future, particularly in advance of its hosting of the upcoming COP28 climate conference in November.
The attendees are looking forward to working together to establish coordinating bodies that will address a range of technical, financial, legal, and regulatory affairs. In the coming period, participants will also meet to advance the design and implementation of the transit network.