Gérard Mestrallet, the former CEO of Engie and French President Emmanuel Macron’s Special Envoy for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), recently visited India to strengthen connectivity between France and India. During his trip to Gujarat from September 16th to 17th, 2024, Mestrallet toured the Mundra port, one of the key points of the IMEC project, to gain a better understanding of India’s infrastructure and development strategy, particularly focusing on energy and renewable sectors.
France, as the first signatory country to appoint a dedicated envoy for the project, has emphasised the strategic importance of this economic corridor, which aims to connect ports in India, the Middle East, and Europe, enhancing trade flows and economic cooperation between India and France. During the visit, Mestrallet highlighted the critical role French companies, such as CMA-CGM, could play in the project, particularly by strengthening shipping links between Mundra and Marseille.
Mestrallet remarked that IMEC could significantly boost cooperation in key areas, including low-carbon energy and digital partnerships. The project aligns with the European Union’s “Global Gateway” connectivity strategy and is poised to become a flagship initiative within this broader framework.
Additionally, France plans to continue working closely with Indian officials to facilitate the pre-planning phase of the IMEC project. Mestrallet will return to India in November for further official meetings in New Delhi, reaffirming France’s strong commitment to this major infrastructure and economic cooperation initiative.
In an increasingly competitive race to play a central role in IMEC, France is moving more decisively than other European actors, particularly Italy. Paris is aligning itself with the momentum coming from India and the Gulf States, which have already taken steps to implement the eastern portion of IMEC. France’s acceleration is primarily driven by its ambition to establish Marseille as a strategic hub for the corridor.
This development presents a significant strategic challenge for Italy, which has been positioning Trieste as the leading European gateway for IMEC. For Italy, it is now imperative to realign its efforts and strategies to effectively compete and secure a central role in the corridor, as its strategic location in the project would suggest.
While France aims to consolidate its position in crucial European ports like Marseille, Italy must step up its diplomatic and economic initiatives to ensure that Trieste remains the best competitive and viable entry point for IMEC, preserving its national interests in the evolving geo-economic landscape.
