Marseille, France – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited France for two days. During his trip, President Emmanuel Macron highlighted a new initiative aimed at creating trade routes in Europe. This effort aims to counter China’s influence in South Asia and the Middle East.
While technology was a hot topic at the AI Action Summit in Paris, there was more on the agenda for both leaders. France has been keen to strengthen its independence from the U.S. and China, and Modi’s visit was his sixth to France in the last decade.
Macron introduced the idea of the India–Middle East-Europe corridor (IMEC), which is meant to redirect some of India’s trade away from China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which spans 150 countries. “It’s a formidable catalyst,” Macron stated during a Franco-Indian business forum, pledging to increase investments to make this new trade route a reality.
The corridor’s design is still in its early stages. It aims to improve trade connections via maritime, rail, and road routes, stretching from Marseille to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and eventually to India’s western coast. This plan received support from various nations during a recent G20 meeting, including Germany, Italy, the EU, and the U.S.
According to the Elysée, Modi’s visit aimed to hasten projects related to IMEC, particularly in ports and energy, especially as China extends its influence over critical infrastructure like Greece’s Piraeus megaport.
France has a significant interest in IMEC, particularly through CMA CGM, a logistics giant based in Marseille, which currently manages 11.5% of Indian shipping activity. CMA CGM’s CEO, Rodolphe Saadé, emphasized the timing was perfect for collaboration during a reception with the two leaders.
IMEC is expected to reduce shipping times by one to two weeks, bringing substantial economic benefits. One company official noted that optimizing costs could lead to billions in savings, though they haven’t finalized the calculations.
With domestic politics in flux, Macron is focusing on international relations, aiming to keep major French companies engaged. Economic expert Jean-Joseph Boillot commented that many of Macron’s decisions seem closely linked to influential business interests, particularly CMA CGM’s involvement in IMEC.
France envisions Marseille as a hub for trade routes, connecting Europe with India, through infrastructure projects such as submarine cables and clean hydrogen pipelines. Macron mentioned that IMEC could enhance connectivity across the whole European region.
However, the corridor’s realization is not guaranteed. It will require an estimated investment of $500 billion and may be affected by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, particularly around the Israeli port of Haifa. Gérard Mestrallet, Macron’s special envoy for IMEC, highlighted that no feasibility studies have been completed, and the essentials for a functioning international partnership are still missing.
Some early research suggests that expectations that IMEC will shift focus away from China to the EU may be overly optimistic. A recent study pointed out that the corridor is more about forming a strategic bloc against China than about fostering genuine cooperation for economic development.
Despite these concerns, Wednesday marked a significant moment for Macron, who continues to seek a closer partnership with India, especially in defense, technology, and energy. Following the historic sale of Rafale fighter jets to India in 2016, further announcements are expected soon, including deals for more Rafales and submarines worth €10 billion.
Both leaders are also interested in expanding collaboration in civil nuclear energy. Before Modi left for Washington, D.C., he visited the international nuclear fusion project ITER near Marseille.
